
BookAi 



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CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH CLASSICS 



The Writings 

of 
Matthew Prior 



H 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Born 1664 
Died 1721 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



POEMS 



ON 



SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



THE TEXT EDITED BY 



A. R. WALLER, M.A. 




Cambridge : 

at the University Press 

1905 



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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE, 

C. F. CLAY, Manager. 

ILontlon: FETTER LANE, E.G. 

dSInggoto: 5°, WELLINGTON STREET. 




iLcipjtg: F. A. BROCKHAUS. 

i^cijj lorft: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. 

Bomliau ant (iTnkuUa: MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd. 



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\AU Riglils reserved^ 



NOTE. 



IN 1 7 1 8 a folio edition of Prior's poems was pub- 
lished by subscription, containing all the poems 
previously issued by him which he wished to acknowledge 
and preserve, carefully revised, and accompanied by 
others then printed for the first time. This folio was 
issued in three sizes. It will be remembered that a 
passage in Prior's will runs thus : — ' To the College 
of St. John the Evangelist, in Cambridge, I leave Such 
and so many of my Books, as shall be judged to amount 
unto the Value of Two Hundred Pounds : These Books, 
with my own Poems in the greatest Paper, to be kept 
in the Library, together with the Books which I have 
already given.' Of these eighteenth-century examples 
of large-paper issues Mr Austin Dobson remarks, ' with 
the small copy of 171 8, Johnson might have knocked 
down Osborne the bookseller; with the same work in 

its tallest form Osborne the bookseller might have 

laid prostrate the " Great Lexicographer " himself.' 
Those who have seen the ' greatest ' copy will not doubt 
the truth of this statement. Desirous of being suit- 
ably equipped in this ' Battle of the Books,' I have 
used a medium copy as the basis of the present text, 
a copy measuring i6|^ ins. x lof ins. Even this is a 
handsome folio, with engraved initial letters, head-pieces 
and tail-pieces, of the usual mythological nature. ' The 
Names of the Subscribers ' who received the volume in 



NOTE 

1 7 19 in exchange for some four thousand guineas are 
duly given. These names occupy twenty double- 
columned pages, and it did not seem desirable to 
reprint them here. The Reverend Dr Peter Drelincourt, 
Dean 0/ Armagh, known to students of Defoe, in con- 
nection with ' The Apparition of Mrs Veal,' is a sub- 
scriber ; William Congreve, Esq., Sir Godfrey Kneller, 
Bar., Sir Isaac Newton, each take a copy, and so does 
Alexander Pope, Esq.\ while Jonathan Swift, D.D., 
Dean of St. Patricks, Dublin, subscribes for 'Five 
Books; and, low down on the list, appears the name of 
Sir John Vanbrugh, architect and dramatist. 

Two or three previous collections of Prior's poems 
had appeared. In 1707 a volume entitled 'Poems on 
Several Occasions : consisting of Odes, Satyrs and 
Epistles ; With some Select Translations and Imitations^ 
was published bearing the imprint, ' London : Printed 
for R. Burrough, and J. Baker, at the Sun and Moon in 
Cornhill, and E. Curll, at the Peacock without Temple- 
Bar; with three lines from Roscommon on the title- 
page : 

' Be not too Rigidly Censorious ; 
A String may Jarr^ in the Best Masters Hand, 
And the most Skilful Archer miss his Aim.' 

Its Contents are given in the Appendix to the present 
edition (p. 362). Two years later. Prior published a 
volume of ' Poems on Several Occasions. London : Printed 
for Jacob Tonson, within Grays-Inn Gate next Grays-Inn 
Lane,' in the Preface to which, referring to the issue 
of 1707, he says: 'a Collection of Poems has lately ap- 
peared under my Name, tho without my Knowledge, in 
which the Publisher has given me the Honour of some 
Things that did not belong to me, and has Transcribed^ 
others so imperfectly, that I hardly knew them to be mine: 



NOTE 

(See p. xxiii, the Preface and Dedication of the 1709 
volume forming a part of the edition of 17 1 8.) Since all 
the poems in the 1707 edition save the first two {'A 
Satyr^ on the Modern Translators of Ovid's Epistles ' and 
' The Seventh Satyr of Juvenal, imitated ') are known to 
be by Prior, the first portion of the above disclaimer 
must refer to these two. They will be included in the 
second volume of the present edition, and they need not, 
therefore, be discussed here. A collation of the earlier 
issues of Prior's publications with his later collected 
versions induces the belief that the second portion of the 
above disclaimer may also be regarded in a diplomatic or 
Pickwickian sense. A reference to the variants given in 
the Appendix to this volume will show that Prior's final 
forms, especially in his State Odes, differ as greatly from 
their earlier acknowledged versions as do the texts of the 
poems of 1709 from the ^ imperfectly... Transcribed' 
copies of 1707, and it will be seen that, in the case of 
the ' Prologue, spoken at Court before the Queen, On 
Her Majesty's Birth-Day, 1704,' Prior's first version of 
1704 is practically identical with the 1707 'unauthorised ' 
version, though greatly altered when he issued, in 1709, 
the ' indifferent Collection of Poems, for fear of being thought 
the Author of a worse' 

On the whole, therefore, it seemed best to give in 
the present volume, the text of Prior's last collected 
issue, following the folio of 17 18, and in the Appendix 
to give not only the variants of the acknowledged 
edition of 1709, but also (^a) those of the separate early 
states of the poems where possible, {b) those of the 
repudiated collection of 1707, and (f) those of 'A 
Second Collection of Poems on Several Occasions. By 
Matthew Prior, Esq.,' which was published in London 
in 1 7 16, 'Printed for J. Roberts near the Oxford Arms 



NOTE 

in fVarwick-Lane. Price One Shilling.' The four 
collections are distinguished in the Notes by the letters 
A( = i707), B(=:i709), C (=1716) and D (=1718). 
The 17 1 6 edition also was disowned, in the London 
Gazette, March 24, 17 16. There can be little 
doubt, however, of the truth of Pope's statement 
[Letters^ ed. Elwin and Courthope, iii. 194-5) that 'Mr 
Prior himself thought it prudent to disown ' certain 
poems, i.e. the two Satires above referred to, which also 
appear in the 17 16 volume. For the contents of C 
see Appendix, p. 362. 

The original spelling and punctuation, etc., of the folio 
of 1 7 1 8 have been preserved, and the few misprints cor- 
rected are noted. The folio is excellently printed, the 
errors of the press are remarkably few, and there is no 
doubt that it presents the final form of those poems 
which at the date of its publication Prior wished to 
preserve. 

I have not reprinted the Latin version of the 
Carmen Seculare^ by Tho. Dibben, of Trinity College, 
Cambridge, referred to in the Preface (p. xxiii), nor 
The Nut-brown Maid. A Poem, written Three Hundred 
Tears Since, upon which Prior's Henry and Emma 
(pp. 138 — 158) was modelled. Mrs Elizabeth Singer's 
Pastoral {see pp. 26 and 27) has been printed in smaller 
type to differentiate it from Prior's own work, and the 
same course has been adopted in a few other similar 
cases. 

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help given me 
by Mr George A. Brown in the collation of some of the 
early editions. 

The second volume of the present edition is in the 
press. It will contain the remainder of Prior's writings 
in prose and verse, the poems published before the 
viii 



NOTE 

folio of 17 1 8 but not included therein, the poems 
published between 17 18 and 1721, the date of Prior's 
death, and those posthumously published. Through 
the kindness of the Marquis of Bath it will also contain 
the Prose Dialogues of Prior, hitherto unpublished, 
from the Longleat MSS. 



A. R. WALLER. 



Cambridge, 

25 June^ 1905- 



POEMS 

ON 

SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 



LONDON: 

Printed for Jacob Ton son at Shakespears-Head over 

against Katharine-Street in the Strand, and John 

Barber upon Lambeth-Hill. MDCCXVIII. 



To the Right Honorable 

LIONEL, 

Earl of 

DORSET and MIDDLE-SEX. 



IT looks like no great Compliment to Your Lordship, that 
I prefix Your Name to this Epistle ; when, in the Preface, 
I declare the Book is publish'd almost against my Inclination. 
But, in all Cases, My Lord, You have an Hereditary Right to 
whatever may be called Mine. Many of the following Pieces 
were written by the Command of Your Excellent Father; and 
most of the rest, under His Proteftion and Patronage. 

The particular Felicity of Your Birth, My Lord ; The 
natural Endowments of Your Mind, (which, without suspicion 
of Flattery) I may tell You, are very Great ; The good Educa- 
tion with which these Parts have been improved ; and Your 
coming into the World, and seeing Men very early ; make Us 
expeft from Your Lordship all the Good, which our Hopes can 
form in Favour of a young Nobleman. Tu Afarcel/us eris^ — 
Our Eyes and our Hearts are turned on You. You must be a 
Judge and Master of Polite Learning; a Friend and Patron to 
Men of Letters and Merit ; a faithful and able Counsellor to 
Your Prince ; a true Patriot to your Countrey ; an Ornament 
and Honor to the Titles You possess; and in one Word, a 
Worthy Son to the Great Earl of Dorset. 

It is as impossible to mention that Name, without desiring 
to Commend the Person ; as it is to give Him the Commenda- 
tions which His Virtues deserved. But I assure my self, the 
most agreeable Compliment I can bring Your Lordship, is to 

xiii 



DEDICATION 

pay a grateful Respeft to Your Father's Memory. And my 
own Obligations to Him were such ; that the World must 
pardon my Endeavoring at His Charafter, however I may 
miscarry in the Attempt. 

A Thousand Ornaments and Graces met in the Composition 
of this Great Man ; and contributed to make Him universally 
Belov'd and Esteem'd. The Figure of His Body was Strong, 
Proportionable, Beautiful : and were His Picture well Drawn, 
it must deserve the Praise given to the Pourtraits of Raphael ; 
and, at once, create Love and Respeft. While the Greatness 
of His Mein inform'd Men, they were approaching the Noble- 
man ; the Sweetness of it invited them to come nearer to the 
Patron. There was in His Look and Gesture something that 
is easier conceived than described; that gain'd upon You in His 
Favor, before He spake one Word. His Behavior was Easie 
and Courteous to all; but Distinguished and Adapted to each 
Man in particular, according to his Station and Quality. His 
Civility was free from the Formality of Rule, and flowed 
immediately from His good Sense. 

Such were the Natural Faculties and Strength of His Mind, 
that He had occasion to borrow very little from Education : and 
He owed those Advantages to His own Good Parts, which 
Others acquire by Study and Lnitation. His Wit was Abundant, 
Noble, Bold. Wit in most Writers is like a Fountain in a 
Garden, supply'd by several Streams brought thro' artful Pipes, 
and playing sometimes agreeably. But the Earl of Dorset's 
was a Source rising from the Top of a Mountain, which forced 
it's own way, and with inexhaustible Supplies, delighted and 
inriched the Country thro' which it pass'd. This extraordinary 
Genius was accompany'd with so true a Judgment in all Parts 
of fine Learning, that whatever Subject was before Him, He 
Discours'd as properly of it, as if the peculiar Bent of His Study 
had been apply'd That way ; and He perfefted His Judgment 
by Reading and Digesting the best Authors, tho' He quoted 
Them very seldom. 

Contemnebat pot'im UteraSy quam nesciebat: 

and rather seem'd to draw His Knowledge from His own 
Stores, than to owe it to any Foreign Assistance. 

The Brightness of His Parts, the Solidity of His Judgment, 

xiv 



DEDICATION 

and the Candor and Generosity of His Temper distinguish'd 
Him in an Age of great Politeness, and at a Court abounding 
with Men of the finest Sense and Learning. The most eminent 
Masters in their several Ways appeal'd to His Determination. 
Waller thought it an Honor to consult Him in the Softness 
and Harmony of his Verse : and Dr. Sprat, in the Delicacy 
and Turn of his Prose. Dryden determines by Him, under 
the Charafter of Eugenius ; as to the Laws of Dramatick 
Poetry. Butler ow'd it to Him, that the Court tasted his 
Hudibras: Wicherley, that the Town liked his Plain Dealer: 
and the late Duke of Buckingham deferr'd to publish his 
Rehearsal-^ 'till He was sure (as He expressed it) that my 
Lord Dorset would not Rehearse upon Him again. If We 
wanted Foreign Testimony ; la Fontaine and S"^- Evremont 
have acknowledg'd, that He was a Perfeft Master in the Beauty 
and Fineness of their Language, and of All that They call 
les Belles Lettres. Nor was this Nicety of His Judgement con- 
fined only to Books and Literature; but was the Same in 
Statuary, Painting, and all other Parts of Art. Bernini would 
have taken His Opinion upon the Beauty and Attitude of a 
Figure ; and King Charles did not agree with Lely, that my 
Lady Cleveland's Pidure was Finished, 'till it had the Appro- 
bation of my Lord Buckehurst. 

As the Judgement which He made of Others Writings, 
could not be refuted ; the Manner in which He wrote, will 
hardly ever be Equalled. Every one of His Pieces is an Ingot 
of Gold, intrinsically and solidly Valuable ; such as, wrought or 
beaten thinner, would shine thro' a whole Book of any other 
Author. His Thought was always New ; and the Expression 
of it so particularly Happy, that every body knew immediately, 
it could only be my Lord Dorset's : and yet it was so Easy 
too, that Every body was ready to imagine himself capable of 
writing it. There is a Lustre in His Verses, like That of the 
Sun in Claude Loraine's Landskips; it looks Natural, and 
is Inimitable. His Love-Verses have a Mixture of Delicacy 
and Strength : they convey the Wit of Petronius in the 
Softness of Tibullus. His Satyr indeed is so severely Pointed, 
that in it He appears, what His Great Friend the Earl of 
Rochester (that other Prodigy of the Age) says He was; 
The best good Man^ with the worst-natur^d Muse. 
P. b XV 



DEDICATION 

Yet even here, That Charafter may justly be Applied to Him, 
which Persius gives of the best Writer in this Kind, that ever 
lived : 

Omne vafer vitium rident't Flaccus amico 
Tangit^ & admissus c'lrcum prcecordia lud'it. 

And the Gentleman had always so much the better of the 
Satyrist, that the Persons touched did not know where to fix 
their Resentments ; and were forced to appear rather Ashamed 
than Angry, Yet so far was this great Author from Valuing 
himself upon His Works, that He cared not what became of them, 
though every body else did. There are many Things of His not 
Extant in Writing, which however are always repeated : like 
the Verses and Sayings of the Ancient Druids, they retain 
an Universal Veneration ; tho' they are preserved only by 
Memory. 

As it is often seen, that those Men who are least Qualified 
for Business, love it most ; my Lord Dorset's Chara6ler was, 
that He certainly understood it, but did not care for it. 

Coming very Young to the Possession of two Plentiful 
Estates, and in an Age when Pleasure was more in Fashion 
than Business ; He turned his Parts rather to Books and Con- 
versation, than to Politicks, and what more immediately related 
to the Public. But whenever the Safety of His Countrey 
demanded His Assistance, He readily entred into the most 
Aftive Parts of Life ; and underwent the greatest Dangers, 
with a Constancy of Mind, which shewed, that He had not 
only read the Rviles of Philosophy, but understood the Practice 
of them. 

Li the first Dutch War He went a Volunticr under the 
Duke of York : His Behavior, during That Campaigne, was 
such, as distinguish'd the Sackville descended from that 
HiLDEBRAND of the Name, who was one of the greatest 
Captains that came into England with the Conqueror. But 
His making a Song the Night before the Engagement (and it 
was one of the prettiest that ever was made) carries with it so 
sedate a Presence of Mind, and such an unusual Gallantry, that 
it deserves as much to be Recorded, as Alexander's jesting 
with his Soldiers, before he passed the Granicus : or William 
the First of Orange, giving Order over Night for a Battel, and 



DEDICATION 

desiring to be called in the Morning, lest He should happen to 
Sleep too long. 

From hence, during the remaining Part of King Charles's 
Reign, He continued to Live in Honorable Leisure. He was 
of the Bed-chamber to the King; and Possessed not only His 
Master's Favor, but (in a great Degree) His Familiarity ; never 
leaving the Court, but when He was sent to That of France, 
on some short Commissions and Embassies of Compliment : as 
if the King designed to show the French, (who would be 
thought the Politest Nation) that one of the Finest Gentlemen 
in Europe was His Subje6l ; and that We had a Prince who 
understood His Worth so well, as not to suffer Him to be long 
out of His Presence. 

The succeeding Reign neither relish'd my Lord's Wit, nor 
approved His Maxims : so He retired altogether from Court. 
But as the irretrievable Mistakes of That unhappy Government, 
went on to Threaten the Nation with something more Terrible 
than a Dutch War : He thought it became Him to resume the 
Courage of His Youth, and once more to Engage Himself in 
defending the Liberty of His Countrey. He entred into the 
Prince of Orange's Interest ; and carried on His Part of That 
great Enterprise here in London, and under the Eye of the 
Court; with the same Resolution, as His Friend and Fellow- 
Patriot the late Duke of Devonshire did in open Arms at 
Nottingham ; 'till the Dangers of those Times increased to 
Extremity ; and just Apprehensions arose for the Safety of the 
Princess, our present Glorious Queen : then the Earl of 
Dorset was thought the properest Guide of Her necessary 
Flight, and the Person under whose Courage and Direction 
the Nation might most safely Trust a Charge so Precious and 
Important. 

After the Establishment of Their late Majesties upon the 
Throne, there was Room again at Court for Men of my Lord's 
Character. He had a Part in the Councils of those Princes ; a 
great Share in their Friendship ; and all the Marks of Dis- 
tinction, with which a good Government could reward a 
Patriot. He was made Chamberlain of their Majesties Hous- 
hold ; a Place which He so eminently Adorn'd, by the Grace 
of His Person, the Fineness of His Breeding, and the Knowledge 
and Pradlice of what was Decent and Magnificent ; that He 

h 2 xvii 



DEDICATION 

could only be Rivalled in these Qualifications by one great 
Man, who has since held the same Staff. 

The last Honors He received from His Soveraign, (and 
indeed they were the Greatest which a Subjedl could receive) 
were, that He was made Knight of the Garter, and constituted 
One of the Regents of the Kingdom, during His Majesty's 
Absence. But his Health, about that time, sensibly Declining ; 
and the Public Affairs not Threatned by any Imminent Danger ; 
He left the Business to Those who delighted more in the State 
of it; and appeared only sometimes at Council, to show his 
Respeft to the Commission : giving as much Leisure as He 
could to the Relief of those Pains, with which it pleased God 
to Affli6l Him ; and Indulging the Reflexions of a Mind, that 
had looked thro' the World with too piercing an Eye, and was 
grown weary of the Prospeft. Upon the whole ; it may very 
justly be said of this Great Man, with Regard to the Public, 
that thro' the Course of his Life, He A6led like an able Pilot in 
a long Voyage; contented to sit Quiet in the Cabin, when the 
Winds were allayed, and the Waters smooth ; but Vigilant and 
Ready to resume the Helm, when the Storm arose, and the Sea 
grew Tumultuous. 

I ask Your Pardon, My Lord, if I look yet a little more 
nearly into the late Lord Dorset's Charafter : if I examine it 
not without some Intention of finding Fault ; and (which is an 
odd way of making a Panegyric) set his Blemishes and Imper- 
fections in open View. 

The Fire of His Youth carried Him to some Excesses: but 
they were accompanied with a most lively Invention, and true 
Humour. The little Violences and easie Mistakes of a Night 
too gayly spent, (and That too in the Beginning of Life) were 
always set Right, the next Day, with great Humanity, and 
ample Retribution. His Faults brought their Excuse with 
them, and his very Failings had their Beauties. So much 
Sweetness accompanied what He said, and so great Generosity 
what He did; that People were always prepossess'd in his 
Favor : and it was in Fa6f true, when the late Earl of Rochester 
said, in Jest, to King Charles ; That He did not know how it 
was, but my Lord Dorset might do any thing, yet was never 
to Blame. 

He was naturally very subjed: to Passion ; but the short 



DEDICATION 

Gust was soon over, and served only to set ofF the Charms of 
his Temper, when more Compos'd. That very Passion broke 
out with a Force of Wit, which made even Anger agreeable : 
While it lasted,. He said and forgot a thousand Things, which 
other Men would have been glad to have studied and wrote : 
but the Impetuosity was Correfted upon a Moment's Refleftion ; 
and the Measure altered with such Grace and Delicacy, that 
You could scarce perceive where the Key was Changed. 

He was very Sharp in his Reflexions ; but never in the 
wrong Place. His Darts were sure to Wound ; but they were 
sure too to hit None but those whose Follies gave Him very 
fair Aim. And when He allowed no Quarter ; He had certainly 
been provoked by more than common Error : by Men's tedious 
and circumstantial Recitals of their Affairs ; or by their multiply'd 
Questions about his own : by extreme Ignorance and Imperti- 
nence ; or the mixture of these, an ill-judg'd and never-ceasing 
Civility: or lastly, by the two Things which were his utter 
Aversion ; the Insinuation of a Flatterer, and the Whisper of a 
Tale-bearer. 

If therefore, We set the Piece in it's worst Position ; if it's 
Faults be most exposed, the Shades will still appear very finely 
join'd with their Lights ; and every Imperfeftion will be 
diminished by the Lustre of some Neighb'ring Virtue. But if 
We turn the great Drawings and wonderful Colourings to 
their true Light ; the Whole must appear Beautiful, Noble, 
Admirable. 

He possessed all those Virtues in the highest Degree, upon 
which the Pleasure of Society, and the Happiness of Life depend : 
and He exercised them with the greatest Decency, and best 
Manners. As good Nature is said, by a great * Author, to 
belong more particularly to the English, than any other 
Nation ; it may again be said, that it belonged more particularly 
to the late Earl of Dorset, than to any other English Man. 

A kind Husband He was, without Fondness : and an in- 
dulgent Father without Partiality. So extraordinary good a 
Master, that This Quality ought indeed to have been number'd 
among his Defe6ls : for He was often worse served than became 
his Station ; from his Unwillingness to assume an Authority 
too Severe. And, during those little Transports of Passion, to 
* Sprat, Hht. of the Royal Society. 

h^ xix 



DEDICATION 

which I just now said He was subjeft; I have known his 
Servants get into his way, that They might make a Merit of it 
immediately after : for He that had the good Fortune to be 
Chid, was sure of being Rewarded for it, ^ 

His Table was one of the Last, that gave Us an Example 
of the Old House-keeping of an English Nobleman. A Free- 
dom reigned at it, which made every one of his Guests think 
Himself at Home: and an Abundance, which shewed that the 
Master's Hospitality extended to many More, than Those who 
had the Honor to sit at Table with Him. 

In his Dealings with Others ; his Care and Exaftness, that 
every Man should have his Due, was such, that You would 
think He had never seen a Court : the Politeness and Civility 
with which this Justice was administred, would convince You 
He never had lived out of One. 

He was so stri6l an Observer of his Word, that no Con- 
sideration whatever, could make him break it : yet so cautious, 
lest the Merit of his A61 should arise from that Obligation only; 
that He usually did the greatest Favors, without making any 
previous Promise. So inviolable was He in his Friendship ; and 
so kind to the Character of Those, whom He had once 
Honored with a more intimate Acquaintance; that nothing 
less than a Demonstration of some Essential Fault, could make 
Him break with Them : and then too, his good Nature did not 
consent to it, without the greatest Relu6tance and Difficulty. 
Let me give one Instance of this amongst many. When, as 
Lord Chamberlain, He was obliged to take the King's Pension 
from Mr. Dryden, who had long before put Himself out of a 
Possibility of Receiving any Favor from the Court : my Lord 
allowed Him an Equivalent, out of his own Estate. However 
displeased with the Conduct!: of his old Acquaintance, He relieved 
his Necessities ; and while He gave Him his Assistance in Private ; 
in Public, He extenuated and pitied his Error. 

The Foundation indeed of these Excellent Qualities, and 
the Perfection of my Lord Dorset's Charafter, was, That 
unbounded Charity which ran through the whole Tenor of his 
Life; and sat as visibly Predominant over the other Faculties 
of his Soul ; as She is said to do in Heaven, above Her Sister 
Virtues. 

Crouds of Poor daily thronged his Gates, expedting thence 



DEDICATION 

their Bread : and were still lessened by His sending the most 
proper Objects of his Bounty to Apprenticeships, or Hospitals. 
The Lazar and the Sick, as He accidentally saw them, were 
removed from the Street to the Physician : and Many of Them 
not only restored to Health ; but supplied with what might 
enable Them to resume their former Callings, and make their 
future Life happy. The Prisoner has often been released, by 
my Lord's paying the Debt; and the Condemned has been 
saved by his Intercession with the Sovereign ; where He thought 
the Letter of the Law too rigid. To Those whose Circum- 
stances were such as made Them ashamed of their Poverty; 
He knew how to bestow his Munificence, without offending 
their Modesty: and under the Notion of frequent Presents, 
gave Them what amounted to a Subsistance. Many yet alive 
know This to be true, though He told it to None, nor ever was 
more uneasy, than when any one mentioned it to Him. 

We may find among the Greeks and Latins^ Tibullus, and 
Gallus; the Noblemen that writ Poetry: Augustus and 
M^CENAS; the Proteftors of Learning: Aristides, the good 
Citizen ; and Atticus, the well-bred Friend : and bring Them 
in, as Examples, of my Lord Dorset's Wit ; His Judgment ; 
His Justice; and His Civility. But for His Charity, My Lord, 
We can scarce find a Parallel in History it self. 

Titus was not more the Delicio' Humayii generis, on this 
Account, than my Lord Dorset was. And, without any 
Exageration, that Prince did not do more good in Proportion, 
out of the Revenue of the Roman Empire, than Your Father, 
out of the Income of a private Estate. Let this, my Lord, 
remain to You and Your Posterity a Possession for ever, to be 
Imitated, and if possible, to be Excelled. 

As to my own Particular, I scarce knew what Life was, 
sooner than I found my self obliged to His Favor; nor have 
had Reason to feel any Sorrow, so sensibly as That of His 
Death. 

I//e dies — quern semper acerbiim 

Semper honor atutn {sic Di voluistis) habebo. 

TEneas could not refleft upon the Loss of His own Father 
with greater Piety, my Lord, than I must recall the Memory of 
Your's: and when I think whose Son I am writing to, the 

xxi 



DEDICATION 

least I promise my self from Your Goodness is an uninterrupted 
Continuance of Favor, and a Friendship for Life. To which 
that I may with some Justice Intitle my self, I send Your Lord- 
ship a Dedication, not filled with a long Detail of Your Praises, 
but with my sincerest Wishes, that You may Deserve them ; 
That You may Imploy those extraordinary Parts and Abilities, 
with which Heaven has blessed You, to the Honor of Your 
Family, the Benefit of Your Friends, and the Good of Your 
Country; That all Your Anions may be Great, Open, and 
Noble, such as may tell the World, whose Son, and whose 
Successor You are. 

What I now offer to Your Lordship is a Collection of 
Poetry, a kind of Garland of Good Will. If any Verses of My 
Writing should appear in Print, under another Name and 
Patronage, than That of an Earl of Dorset ; People might 
suspeft them not to be Genuine. I have attained my present 
End, if these Poems prove the Diversion of some of Your 
Youthful Hours, as they have been occasionally the Amusement 
of some of Mine ; and I humbly hope, that as I may hereafter 
bind up my fuller Sheaf, and lay some Pieces of a very different 
Nature (the Product of my severer Studies) at Your Lordship's 
Feet, I shall engage Your more serious Refleftion : Happy, if 
in all my Endeavors I may contribute to Your Delight, or to 
Your Listru6lion. I am, with all Duty and Respe6l, 

My Lord, 

Tour Lordship's 

most Obedient y and 

most Humble Servanty 
MAT. PRIOR. 



xxn 



PREFACE. 



THE Greatest Part of what I have TVritten having already 
been Published^ either singly or in some of the Miscellanies ; it 
would be too late for Me to make any Excuse for appearing in 
Print : But a ColleSfion of Poems has lately appeared under my 
Name^ tho* without my Knowledge^ in which the Publisher has 
given Me the Honor of some Things that did not belong to Me; 
and has Transcribed others so imperfectly^ that 1 hardly knew them 
to be Mine, This has obliged Me^ in my own Defence^ to look back 
upon some of those lighter Studies^ which I ought long since to have 
quitted^ and to Publish an indifferent Colle5lion of Poems, for fear of 
being thought the Author of a worse. 

Thus I beg Pardon of the Public for Reprinting some Pieces, 
which, as they came singly from their first Impression, have (I fancy) 
lain long and quietly in Mr. Tonson's Shop ; and adding others to 
them, zuhich were never before Printed, and might have lain as 
quietly, and perhaps more safely, in a Corner of my own Study. 

The Reader will, I hope, make Allowance for their having been 
written at very distant Times, and on very different Occasions ; and 
take them as they happen to come, Public Panegyrics, Amorous Odes, 
Serious Refie^ions, or Idle Tales, the ProduSi of his leisure Hours, 
who had Business enough upon his Hands, and was only a Poet by 
Accident. 

I take this Occasion to thank yny good Friend and Schoolfellow 
Mr. DiBBEN, for his excellent Version of the Carmen Seculare ; 
though my Gratitude may justly carry a little Envy with it : for 
I believe the most accurate fudges will find the Translation exceed 
the Original. 

I must likewise own my self obliged to Mrs. Singer, who has 
given Me Leave to Print a Pastoral of Her Writing ; That Poem 
having produced the Verses immediately following it. I wish She 
might he prevailed with to publish some other Pieces of that Kind, in 
which the Softness of Her Sex, and the Fineness of Her Genius, 
conspire to give Her a very distinguishing Chara£ter. 



XXHl 



POSTSCRIPT. 



I Must help my Preface by a Postscript^ to tell the Reader^ that 
there is 'Ten Tears Distance between my writing the One and 
the Other ; and that {whatever I thought thcn^ and have somewhere 
said^ that I would publish no more Poetry) He will find several 
Copies of Ferses scattered through this Edition^ tuhich were not 
printed in the First. Those relating to the Publick stand in the 
Order They did before^ and according to the several Tears^ in which 
They were written ; hoivevcr the Disposition of our National 
Affair Sy the ASiions., or the Fortunes of some Men^ and the Opinions 
of others may have changed. Prose ^ and other Human Things may 
take what Turn they can ; but Poetry^ which pretends to have 
something of Divinity in it, is to be more permanent. Odes once 
printed cannot zvell be altered^ when the Author has already said^ 
that He experts His JVork should Live for Ever. And it had 
been very foolish in my Friend Horace, if some Tears after His 
Exegi Monuinentum, He should have desired to see his Building 
taken doivn again. 

The Dedication Ukeivise is Reprinted to the Earl of Dorset, 
in the foregoing Leaves, without any Alteration ; though I had the 
fairest Opportunity, and the strongest Inclination to have added a 
great deal to it. The blooming Hopes, tuhich I said the World 
expedited from, my then very Toung Patron, have been confirmed by 
most Noble and distinguished First-Fruits ; and His Life is going 
on towards a plentiful Harvest of all accumulated Virtues. He 
has in FaSt exceeded whatever the Fondness of }ny JVishes could 
invent in His Favor : His equally Good and Beautiful Lady enjoys 
in Him an Indulgent, and Obliging Husband; His Children, a 
Kind, and Careful Father; and His Acquaintance, a Faithful, 
Generous, and Polite Friend. His Fellow-Peers have attended to 
the Perswasion of His Eloquence; and have been convinced by the 
Solidity of His Reasoning. He has long since deserved and attained 



POSTSCRIPT 

the Honor of the Garter. He has managed some of the greatest 
Charges of the Kingdom with knoiun Ability ; and laid them down 
with entire Disinter essment. And as He continues the Exercises of 
these eminent Virtues {which that He may do to a very old Age^ 
shall be my perpetual TFish) He may be One of the Greatest Men 
that our Age^ or possibly our Nation has bred-, and leave Materials 
for a Panegyric^ not unworthy the Pen of some future Pliny. 

Fro?n so Noble a Subject as the Earl of T)OKSETy to so mean a 
one as my self is (/ confess) a very Pi?idaric 'Transition. I shall 
only say one IVord^ and trouble t\h'\e Reader 710 further. I published 
my Poems formerly^ as Monsieur Jourdain sold his Silk : He 
would not he thought a Tradesman ; but ordered some Pieces to be 
measured out to his particular Friends. Now I give up my Shop, 
and dispose of all my Poetical Goods at once : I must therefore desire, 
that the Public would please to take them in the Gross ; and that 
every Body would turn over what He does not like. 



XXV 



POEMS 

ON 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 



On Exodus iii. 14. I am that I am. 

An ODE. 

Written in 1688, as an Exercise at St. John's College^ 
Cambridge. 

I. 

MAN ! Foolish Man ! 
Scarce know'st Thou how thy self began : 
Scarce hast Thou Thought enough to prove Thou art : 
Yet steel'd with study'd Boldness, Thou dar'st try 
To send thy doubting Reason's dazled Eye 
Through the mysterious Gulph of vast Immensity. 
Much Thou canst there discern, much thence impart. 
Vain Wretch ! suppress thy knowing Pride : 
Mortifie thy learned Lust : 
Vain are thy Thoughts ; while Thou thy self are Dust. 

11. 

Let Wit her Sails, her Oars let Wisdom lend : 
The Helm let Politick Experience guide : 
Yet cease to hope thy short-liv'd Bark shall ride 
Down spreading Fate's unnavigable Tide. 

What, tho' still it farther tend ? 

Still 'tis farther from it's End ; 
And, in the Bosom of that boundless Sea, 
Still finds it's Error lengthen with it's Way. 

P. A 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

III. 

With daring Pride and insolent Delight 

Your Doubts resolv'd you boast, your Labours crown'd 

And, ETPHKA ! your GOD, forsooth, is found 

Incomprehensible and Infinite. 

But is He therefore found ? Vain Searcher ! no : 

Let your imperfect Definition show. 

That nothing You, the weak Definer, know. 

IV. 

Say, why should the collefted Main 

It self within it self contain ? 
Why to its Caverns should it sometimes creep, 

And with delighted Silence sleep 
On the lov'd Bosom of it's Parent Deep ? 

Why shou'd it's num'rous Waters stay 
In comely Discipline, and fair Array, 
'Till Winds and Tides exert their high Command[s] ? 

Then prompt and ready to obey. 

Why do the rising Surges spread 
Their op'ning Ranks o'er Earth's submissive Head, 
Marching thro' different Paths to diflFerent Lands ? 

V. 

Why does the constant Sun 
With measur'd Steps his radiant Journeys run ? 
Why does He order the Diurnal Hours 
To leave Earth's other Part, and rise in Our's ? 
Why does He wake the correspondent Moon, 
And fill her willing Lamp with liquid Light, 
Commanding Her with delegated Pow'rs 
To beautifie the World, and bless the Night ? 

Why does each animated Star 
Love the just Limits of it's proper Sphere ? 

Why does each consenting Sign 

With prudent Harmony combine 
In Turns to move, and subsequent appear 
To gird the Globe, and regulate the Year ? 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

VI. 

Man does with dangerous Curiosity 

These unfathom'd Wonders try : 
With fancy'd Rules and arbitrary Laws 
Matter and Motion He restrains ; 
And study'd Lines, and fi6lious Circles draws : 

Then with imagin'd Soveraignty 

Lord of his new Hypothesis He reigns. 
He reigns ? How long ? 'till some Usurper rise : 
And He too, mighty thoughtful, mighty wise. 
Studies new Lines, and other Circles feigns. 

From this last Toil again what Knowledge flows ? 
Just as much, perhaps, as shows, 
That all his Predecessor's Rules 

Were empty Cant^ all y argon of the Schools ; 

That he on t'other's Ruin rears his Throne ; 
And shows his Friend's Mistake, and thence confirms his own. 



VIL 

On Earth, in Air, amidst the Seas and Skies, 

Mountainous Heaps of Wonders rise ; 

Whose tow'ring Strength will ne'er submit 
To Reason's Batt'ries, or the Mines of Wit : 
Yet still enquiring, still mistaking Man, 
Each Hour repuls'd, each Hour dare onward press ; 
And levelling at GOD his wand'ring Guess 
(That feeble Engine of his reasoning War, 
Which guides his Doubts, and combats his Despair) 
Laws to his Maker the learn'd Wretch can give ; 
Can bound that Nature, and prescribe that Will, 
Whose pregnant Word did either Ocean fill ; 
Can tell us whence all Beings are, and how they move and 
live. 

Thro' either Ocean (foolish Man !) 

That pregnant Word sent forth again, 
Might to a World extend each Atom there ; 
For every Drop call forth a Sea, a Heav'n for every Star. 

A 2 7, 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
VIIL 

Let cunning Earth her fruitful Wonders hide ; 
And only lift thy stagg'ring Reason up 
To trembling Calvary's astonish'd Top : 
Then mock thy Knowledge, and confound thy Pride, 
Explaining how Perfection suffer'd Pain ; 
Almighty languish'd ; and Eternal dy'd : 
How by her Patient Viftor Death was slain ; 
And Earth prophan'd, yet bless'd with Deicide. 
Then down with all thy boasted Volumes, down : 

Only reserve the Sacred One : 
Low, reverently low. 

Make thy stubborn Knowledge bow ; 
Weep out thy Reason's, and thy Body's Eyes ; 

Dejeft thy self, that Thou may'st rise ; 
To look to Heav'n, be blind to all below. 



IX. 

Then Faith, for Reason's glimmering Light, shall give 

Her Immortal Perspedlive ; 
And Grace's Presence Nature's Loss retrieve : 
Then thy enliven'd Soul shall see. 
That all the Volumes of Philosophy, 
With all their Comments, never cou'd invent 

So politick an Instrument, 
To reach the Heav'n of Heav'ns, the high Abode, 
Where Moses places his Mysterious GOD, 
As was that Ladder which old Jacob rear'd. 
When Light Divine had human Darkness clear'd ; 
And his enlarg'd Ideas found the Road, 
Which Faith had dictated, and Angels trod. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



TO THE 
COUNTESS ^/EXETER, 

Playing on the Lute. 



WHAT Charms You have, from what high Race You 
sprung, 
Have been the pleasing Subjects of my Song : 
Unskill'd and young, yet something still I v^rit. 
Of Ca'ndish Beauty join'd to Cecil's Wit. 
But w^hen You please to show the lab'ring Muse, 
What greater Theme Your Musick can produce ; 
My babling Praises I repeat no more ; 
But hear, rejoice, stand silent, and adore. 

The Persians thus, first gazing on the Sun, 
Admir'd, how high 'twas plac'd, how bright it shone : 
But, as his Pow'r was known, their Thoughts were rais'd ; 
And soon They worship'd, what at first They prais'd. 

Eliza's Glory lives in Spencer's Song ; 
And Cowley's Verse keeps Fair Orinda young. 
That as in Birth, in Beauty You excell. 
The Muse might didate, and the Poet tell : 
Your Art no other Art can speak ; and You, 
To show how well You play, must play anew : 
Your Musick's Pow'r Your Musick must disclose ; 
For what Light is, 'tis only Light that shows. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Strange Force of Harmony, that thus controuls 
Our Thoughts, and turns and sanftifies our Souls : 
While with it's utmost Art Your Sex could move 
Our Wonder only, or at best our Love : 
You far above Both these Your GOD did place ; 
That Your high Pow'r might w^orldly Thoughts destroy 
That w^ith Your Numbers You our Zeal might raise. 
And, like Himself, communicate Your Joy. 

When to Your Native Heav'n You shall repair. 
And w^ith Your Presence crown the Blessings there ; 
Your Lute may wind it's Strings but little higher, 
To tune their Notes to that immortal Quire. 
Your Art is perfe6l here : Your Numbers do. 
More than our Books, make the rude Atheist know. 
That there's a Heav'n, by what He hears below. 

As in some Piece, while Luke his Skill exprest, 
A cunning Angel came, and drew the rest : 
So, when You play, some Godhead does impart 
Harmonious Aid ; Divinity helps Art : 
Some Cherub finishes what You begun. 
And to a Miracle improves a Tune. 

To burning Rome when frantick Nero play'd. 
Viewing that Face, no more He had survey'd 
The raging Flames ; but struck with strange Surprize, 
Confest them less than Those of Anna's Eyes : 
But had He heard Thy Lute, He soon had found 
His Rage eluded, and his Crime atton'd : 
Thine, like Amphion's Hand, had wak'd the Stone, 
And from Destruction call'd the rising Town : 
Malice to Musick had been forc'd to yield ; 
Nor could He Burn so fast, as Thou could'st Build. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



Picture of Seneca dying in a Bath, 

By JORDAIN. 

At the Right Honorable the Earl of Exeter's 
at Burleigh-House. 



WHILE cruel Nero only drains 
The moral Spaniard's ebbing Veins, 
By Study worn, and slack with Age ; 
How dull, how thoughtless is his Rage ! 
Heighten'd Revenge He should have took : 
He should have burnt his Tutor's Book ; 
And long have reign'd supream in Vice. 
One nobler Wretch can only rise : 
'Tis He whose Fury shall deface 
The Stoick's Image in this Piece : 
For while unhurt, divine Jordain, 
Thy Work and Seneca's remain : 
He still has Body, still has Soul, 
And lives and speaks, restor'd and whole. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



An ODE. 



WHILE blooming Youth, and gay Delight 
Sit on thy rosey Cheeks confest ; 
Thou hast, my Dear, undoubted Right 
To triumph o'er this destin'd Breast. 
My Reason bends to what thy Eyes ordain ; 
For I was born to Love, and Thou to Reign. 

IL 

But would You meanly thus rely 

On Power, You know I must Obey ? 
Exert a Legal Tyranny, 

And do an 111 ; because You may ? 
Still must I Thee, as Atheists Heav'n adore ; 
Not see thy Mercy, and yet dread thy Power ? 

III. 

Take Heed, my Dear : Youth flies apace : 

As well as Cupid, Time is blind : 
Soon must those Glories of thy Face 
The Fate of vulgar Beauty find : 
The Thousand Loves, that arm thy potent Eye, 
Must drop their Quivers, flag their Wings, and die. 

IV. 

Then wilt Thou sigh ; when in each Frown 

A hateful Wrinkle more appears ; 
And putting peevish Humours on. 
Seems but the sad EfFert of Years : 
Kindness it self too weak a Charm will prove. 
To raise the feeble Fires of aged Love. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

V. 

Forc'd Compliments, and formal Bows 

Will show Thee just above Negledl : 
The Heat, with which thy Lover glows, 
Will settle into cold Respect : 
A talking dull Platonic I shall turn ; 
Learn to be civil, when I cease to burn. 

VL 

Then shun the 111, and know, my Dear, 

Kindness and Constancy will prove 
The only Pillars fit to bear 

So vast a Weight as that of Love. 
If Thou can'st wish to make My Flames endure ; 
Thine must be very fierce, and very pure. 

VII. 

Haste, Celia, haste, while Youth invites ; 

Obey kind Cupid's present Voice ; 
Fill ev'ry Sense with soft Delights, 
And give thy Soul a Loose to Joys : 
Let Millions of repeated Blisses prove. 
That Thou all Kindness art, and I all Love. 

vm. 

Be Mine, and only Mine : take care 

Thy Looks, thy Thoughts, thy Dreams to guide 
To Me alone ; nor come so far. 
As liking any Youth beside : 
What Men e'er court Thee, fly 'em, and believe. 
They're Serpents all, and Thou the tempted Eve. 

IX. 

So shall I court thy dearest Truth ; 

When Beauty ceases to engage : 
So thinking on thy charming Youth, 
I'll love it o'er again in Age : 
So Time it self our Raptures shall improve ; 
While still We wake to Joy, and live to Love. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



AN 

EPISTLE 

TO 
FLEETWOOD SHEPHARD, Esq; 

Burleigh, May 14, 1689. 



SIR, 

AS once a Twelvemonth to the Priest, 
k^ Holy at Rome, here Antichrist, 
The Spanish King presents a Jennet, 

To show his Love : That's all that's in it 

For if his Holiness would thump 
His reverend Bum 'gainst Horse's Rump ; 
He might b' equipt from his own Stable 
With one more White, and eke more Able. 

Or as with Gondolas and Men, His 
Good Excellence the Duke of Venice 
(I wish, for Rhime, 't had been the King) 
Sails out, and gives the Gulph a Ring ; 
Which Trick of State, He wisely maintains. 
Keeps Kindness up 'twixt old Acquaintance : 
For else, in honest Truth, the Sea 
Has much less need of Gold than He. 

Or, not to rove, and pump one's Fancy 
For Popish Similies beyond Sea ; 
As Folks from Mud-wall'd Tenement 
Bring Landlords Pepper-corn for Rent ; 

10 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Present a Turkey, or a Hen 

To Those might better spare Them Ten : 

Ev'n so with all Submission, I 

(For first Men instance, then apply) 

Send You each Year a homely Letter, 

Who may return Me much a better. 

Then take it. Sir, as it was writ. 
To pay Respeft, and not show Wit : 
Nor look askew at what it saith : 
There's no Petition in it Taith. 

Here some would scratch their Heads, and try 
What They should write, and How, and Why : 
But I conceive, such Folks are quite in 
Mistakes, in Theory of Writing. 
If once for Principle 'tis laid. 
That Thought is Trouble to the Head ; 
I argue thus : The World agrees, 
That He writes well, who writes with Ease : 
Then He, by Sequel Logical, 
Writes best, who never thinks at all. 

Verse comes from Heav'n, like inward Light j 
Meer human Pains can ne'er come by't : 
The God, not We, the Poem makes : 
We only tell Folks what He speaks. 
Hence, when Anatomists discourse. 
How like Brutes Organs are to Our's ; 
They grant, if higher Powers think fit, 
A Bear might soon be made a Wit ; 
And that, for any thing in Nature, 
Pigs might squeak Love-Odes, Dogs bark Satyr. 

Memnon, tho' Stone, was counted vocal ; 
But 'twas the God, mean while, that spoke all. 
Rome oft has heard a Cross haranguing. 
With prompting Priest behind the Hanging : 
The Wooden Head resolv'd the Question ; 
While You and Pettis help'd the Jest on. 

II 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Your crabbed Rogues, that read Lucretius, 
Are against Gods, You know ; and teach us. 
The God makes not the Poet ; but 
The Thesis, vice-versa put. 
Should Hebrew-wise be understood ; 
And means. The Poet makes the God. 

^Egyptian Gard'ners thus are said to 
Have set the Leeks they after pray'd to ; 
And Romish Bakers praise the Deity 
They chipp'd, while yet in it's Paniety. 

That when You Poets swear and cry. 
The God inspires ! I rave ! I die ! 
If inward Wind does truly swell Ye, 
'T must be the Cholick in your Belly : 
That Writing is but just like Dice ; 
And lucky Mains make People Wise : 
That jumbled Words, if Fortune throw 'em. 
Shall, well as Dryden, form a Poem ; 
Or make a Speech, correal and witty, 
As You know who at the Committee. 

So Atoms dancing round the Center, 
They urge, made all Things at a Venture. 

But granting Matters should be spoke 
By Method, rather than by Luck ; 
This may confine their younger Styles, 
Whom Dryden pedagogues at Will's : 
But never could be meant to tye 
Authentic Wits, like You and I : 
For as young Children, who are try'd in 
Go-Carts, to keep their Steps from sliding ; 
When Members knit, and Legs grow stronger, 
Make use of such Machine no longer ; 
But leap pro Libitu^ and scout 
On Horse call'd Hobby, or without : 
So when at School we first declaim, 
Old BusBEY walks us in a Theme, 
Whose Props support our Lifant Vein, 
And help the Rickets in the Brain : 

12 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

But when our Souls their Force dilate, 
And Thoughts grow up to Wit's Estate ; 
In Verse or Prose, We write or chat, 
Not Six-Pence Matter upon what. 

'Tis not how well an Author says ; 
But 'tis how much, that gathers Praise. 
ToNsoN, who is himself a Wit, 
Counts Writers Merits by the Sheet. 
Thus each should down with all he thinks. 
As Boys eat Bread, to fill up Chinks. 

Kind Sir, I should be glad to see You ; 
I hope Y' are well ; so God be wi' You ; 
Was all I thought at first to write : 
But Things, since then, are alter'd quite ; 
Fancies flow in, and Muse flies high : 
So God knows when my Clack will lye : 
I must, Sir, prattle on, as afore. 
And beg your Pardon yet this half Hour. 

So at pure Barn of loud Non-Con, 
Where with my Granam I have gone. 
When LoBB had sifted all his Text, 
And I well hop'd the Pudding next \ 
Now to apply^ has plagu'd me more. 
Than all his Villain Cant before. 

For your Religion, first, of Her 
Your Friends do sav'ry Things aver : 
They say. She's honest, as your Claret, 
Not sowr'd with Cant^ nor stum'd with Merit : 
Your Chamber is the sole Retreat 
Of Chaplains ev'ry Sunday Night : 
Of Grace, no doubt, a certain Sign, 
When Lay-Man herds with Man Divine : 
For if their Fame be justly great. 
Who would no Popish Nuncio treat ; 
That His is greater, We must grant, 
Who will treat Nuncwi Protestant. 
One single Positive weighs more. 
You know, than Negatives a Score. 

13 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

In Politicks, I hear, You're stanch, 
Dire6lly bent against the French ; 
Deny to have your free-born Toe 
Dragoon'd into a Wooden Shoe : 
Are in no Plots ; but fairly drive at 
The Publiclc Welfare in your Private : 
And will, for England's Glory, try 
Turks, Jevv^s, and Jesuits to defy. 
And keep your Places 'till You die. 

For me, whom wand'ring Fortune threw 
From what I lov'd, the Town and You ; 
Let me just tell You how my Time is 

Past in a Country-Life. Imprimis^ 

As soon as Phoebus' Rays inspe6l us. 
First, Sir, I read ; and then I Breakfast ; 
So on, 'till foresaid God does set, 
I sometimes Study, sometimes Eat. 
Thus, of your Heroes and brave Boys, 
With whom old Homer makes such Noise, 
The greatest A6lions 1 can find, 
Are, that They did their Work, and din'd. 

The Books of which I'm chiefly fond, 
Are such, as You have whilom con'd ; 
That treat of China's Civil Law, 
And Subjedls Rights in Golconda ; 
Of Highway-Elephants at Ceylan, 
That rob in Clans, like Men o' th' Highland ; 
Of Apes that storm, or keep a Town, 
As well almost, as Count Lauzun ; 
Of Unicorns and Alligators, 
Elks, Mermaids, Mummies, Witches, Satyrs, 
And twenty other stranger Matters ; 
Which, tho' they're Things I've no Concern in. 
Make all our Grooms admire my Learning. 

Criticks I read on other Men, 
And Hype?'s upon Them again ; 
From whose Remarks I give Opinion 
On twenty Books, yet ne'er look in One. 



14 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Then all your Wits, that flear and sham, 
Down from Don Quixote to Tom Tram ; 
From whom I Jests and Punns purloin, 
And slily put 'em off for Mine : 
Fond to be thought a Country Wit : 
The rest, when Fate and You think fit. 

Sometimes I climb my Mare, and kick her 
To bottl'd Ale, and neighb'ring Vicar; 
Sometimes at Stamford take a Quart, 
'Squire Shephard's Health With all my Heart. 

Thus, without much Delight, or Grief, 
I fool away an idle Life ; 
'Till Shadwell from the Town retires 
(Choak'd up with Fame and Sea-coal Fires) 
To bless the Wood with peaceful Lyric ; 
Then hey for Praise and Panegyric, 
Justice restor'd, and Nations freed, 
And Wreaths round William's glorious Head. 



to the 
COUNTESS 0/ DORSET. 

Written in her Milton. 

By Mr. BRADBURT. 

SEE here, how bright the first-born Virgin shone; 
And how the first fond Lover was undone. 
Such charming Words our beauteous Mother spoke. 
As Milton wrote ; and such as Your's Her Look. 
Your's the best Copy of th' Original Face, 
Whose Beauty was to furnish all the Race : 
Such Chains no Author could escape but He : 
There'? no Way to be safe, but not to See. 

15 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



TO THE 
LADY DURSLET 

On the same Subject. 



HERE reading how fond Ad-am was betray 'd ; 
And how by Sin Eve's blasted Charms decay'd ; 
Our common Loss unjustly You complain ; 
So small that Part of it, which You sustain. 

You still, fair Mother, in your Offspring trace 
The Stock of Beauty destin'd for the Race : 
Kind Nature, forming Them, the Pattern took 
From Heav'n's first Work, and Eve's Original Look. 

You, happy Saint, the Serpent's Pow'r controul : 
Scarce any actual Guilt defiles your Soul : 
And Hell does o'er that Mind vain Triumph boast, 
Which gains a Heav'n, for Earthly Eden lost. 

With Virtue strong as Your's had Eve been arm'd, 
In vain the Fruit had blush'd, or Serpent charm'd : 
Nor had ovir Bliss by Penitence been bought : 
Nor had frail Adam fall'n, nor Milton wrote. 



16 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

TO 
My LORD BUCKHURST, 

Very Young, 
Playing with a CAT. 

THE am'rous Youth, whose tender Breast 
Was by his darling Cat possest, 
Obtain'd of Venus his Desire, 
Howe'er irregular his Fire : 
Nature the Pow'r of Love obey'd : 
The Cat became a blushing Maid ; 
And, on the happy Change, the Boy 
Imploy'd his Wonder and his Joy. 

Take care, O beauteous Child, take care, 
Lest Thou prefer so rash a Pray'r : 
Nor vainly hope, the Queen of Love 
Will e'er thy Fav'rite's Charms improve. 
O ! quickly from her Shrine retreat ; 
Or tremble for thy Darling's Fate. 

The Queen of Love, who soon will see 
Her own Adonis live in Thee, 
Will lightly her first Loss deplore ; 
Will easily forgive the Boar : 
Her Eyes with Tears no more will flow: 
With jealous Rage her Breast will glow : 
And on her tabby Rival's Face 
She deep will mark her new Disgrace. 



P. 



17 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



An ODE. 



I. 

WHILE from our Looks, fair Nymph, You guess 
The secret Passions of our Mind ; 
My heavy Eyes, You say, confess 
A Heart to Love and Grief inclin'd. 

IL 

There needs, alas ! but little Art, 

To have this fatal Secret found : 
With the same Ease You threvv^ the Dart, 

'Tis certain. You may show^ the Wound. 

m. 

How can I see You, and not love ; 

While You as op'ning East are fair ? 
While cold as Northern Blasts You prove ; 

How can I love, and not despair ? 

IV. 

The Wretch in double Fetters bound 

Your Potent Mercy may release : 
Soon, if my Love but once were crown'd, 

Fair Prophetess, my Grief would cease. 



i8 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



A SONG. 



IN vain You tell your parting Lover, 
You w^ish fair Winds may v/aft Him over. 
Alas ! what Winds can happy prove, 
That bear Me far from u^hat I love ? 
Alas ! w^hat Dangers on the Main 
Can equal Those that I sustain, 
From slighted Vow^s, and cold Disdain ? 

Be gentle, and in Pity choose 
To v/ish the w^ildest Tempests loose : 
That throvi^n again upon the Coast, 
Where first my Shipwrackt Heart was lost, 
I may once more repeat my Pain ; 
Once more in dying Notes complain 
Of slighted Vows, and cold Disdain. 



THE 
DESPAIRING SHEPHERD. 

ALEXIS shun'd his Fellow Swains, 
£\_ Their rural Sports, and jocund Strains : 

(Heav'n guard us all from Cupid's Bow !) 
He lost his Crook, He left his Flocks ; 
And wand'ring thro' the lonely Rocks, 

He nourish'd endless Woe. 

The Nymphs and Shepherds round Him came : 
His Grief Some pity, Others blame : 

The fatal Cause All kindly seek. 
He mingled his Concern with Their's : 
He gave 'em back their friendly Tears : 

He sigh'd, but would not speak. 

B 2 19 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Clorinda came among the rest : 
And She too kind Concern exprest, 

And ask'd the Reason of his Woe : 
She ask'd, but with an Air and Mein, 
That made it easily foreseen, 

She fear'd too much to know. 

The Shepherd rais'd his mournful Head : 
And will You pardon Me, He said, 

While I the cruel Truth reveal ? 
Which nothing from my Breast should tear; 
Which never should offend Your Ear j 

But that You bid Me tell. 

'Tis thus I rove, 'tis thus complain; 
Since You appear'd upon the Plain : 

You are the Cause of all my Care : 
Your Eyes ten thousand Dangers dart : 
Ten thousand Torments vex My Heart : 

I love, and I despair. 

Too much, Alexis, I have heard : 

'Tis what I thought; 'tis what I fear'd: 

And yet I pardon You, She cry'd : 
But You shall promise ne'er again 
To breath your Vows, or speak your Pain : 

He bow'd, obey'd, and dy'd. 



To the Honorable 

CHARLES MONTAGUE, Esq; 

I. 

HOWE'ER 'tis well, that while Mankind 
Thro' Fate's perverse Meander errs, 
He can imagin'd Pleasures find. 
To combat against real Cares. 



20 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

11. 

Fancies and Notions He pursues, 

Which ne'er had Being but in Thought : 

Each, like the Grecian Artist, woo's 
The Image He himself has wrought. 

HI. 

Against Experience He believes : 

He argues against Demonstration, 
Pleas'd, when his Reason He deceives; 

And sets his Judgment by his Passion. 

IV. 

The hoary Fool, who many Days 
Has struggl'd with continu'd Sorrow, 

Renews his Hope, and blindly lays 
The desp'rate Bett upon To-morrow. 

V. 

To-morrow comes: 'tis Noon: 'tis Night: 
This Day like all the former flies : 

Yet on He runs to seek Delight 
To-morrow, 'till To-night He dies. 

VI. 

Our Hopes, like tow'ring Falcons, aim 

At Obje6ls in an airy height : 
The little Pleasure of the Game 

Is from afar to view the Flight. 

VII. 

Our anxious Pains We, all the Day, 
In search of what We like, employ: 

Scorning at Night the worthless Prey, 
We find the Labour gave the Joy. 

VIII. 

At Distance thro' an artful Glass 

To the Mind's Eye Things well appear: 

They lose their Forms, and make a Mass 
Confus'd and black, if brought too near. 



21 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

IX. 

If We see right, We see our Woes : 
Then what avails it to have Eyes? 

From Ignorance our Comfort flows : 
The only Wretched are the Wise. 

X. 

We wearied should lie down in Death : 
This Cheat of Life would take no more; 

If You thought Fame but empty Breath ; 
I, Phyllis but a perjur'd Whore. 



HYMN to the SUN. 
Set by Dr. PURCEL, 

And Sung before their Majesties 
On New-Tears-Day, 1694. 

I. 

LIGHT of the World, and Ruler of the Year, 
With happy Speed begin Thy great Career; 
And, as Thou dost thy radiant Journeys run. 
Through every distant Climate own. 
That in fair Albion Thou hast seen 
The greatest Prince, the brightest Queen, 
That ever sav'd a Land, or blest a Throne, 
Since first Thy Beams were spread, or Genial Power was 
known. 

M. 

So may Thy Godhead be confest ; 

So the returning Year be blest ; 

As His Infant Months bestow 

Springing Wreaths for William's Brow; 

22 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

As His Summer's Youth shall shed 
Eternal Sweets around Maria's Head. 

From the Blessings They bestow, 
Our Times are dated, and our Mras move: 
They govern, and enlighten all Below, 
As Thou dost all Above. 

III. 

Let our Hero in the War 
A6tive and fierce, like Thee, appear: 
Like Thee, great Son of Jove, like Thee, 
When clad in rising Majesty, 
Thou marchest down o'er Delos' Hills confest. 
With all Thy Arrows arm'd, in all Thy Glory drest. 
Like Thee, the Hero does his Arms imploy. 

The raging Python to destroy. 
And give the injur'd Nations Peace and Joy, 

IV. 

From fairest Years, and Time's more happy Stores, 

Gather all the smiling Hours; 
Such as with friendly Care have guarded 

Patriots and Kings in rightful Wars; 
Such as with Conquest have rewarded 

Triumphant Vi6lors happy Cares; 
Such as Story has recorded 
Sacred to Nassau's long Renown, 
For Countries sav'd, and Battels won. 

V. 

March Them again in fair Array, 

And bid Them form the happy Day, 

The happy Day design'd to wait 

On William's Fame, and Europe's Fate. 

Let the happy Day be crown'd 
With great Event, and fair Success; 

No brighter in the Year be found. 
But That which brings the Vi6tor home in Peace. 



23 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

VI. 

Again Thy Godhead We implore, 
Great in Wisdom as in Power; 
Again, for good Maria's Sake, and Our's, 

Chuse out other smiling Hours, 
Such as with Joyous Wings have fled, 

When happy Counsels were advising; 
Such as have lucky Omens shed 

O'er forming Laws, and Empires rising; 
Such as many Courses ran, 
Hand in Hand, a goodly Train, 
To bless the great Eliza's Reign; 
And in the Typic Glory show, 
What fuller Bliss Maria shall bestow. 

vn. 

As the solemn Hours advance. 
Mingled send into the Dance 
Many fraught with all the Treasures, 
Which Thy Eastern Travels views; 
Many wing'd with all the Pleasures, 
Man can ask, or Heav'n diffuse : 
That great Maria all those Joys may know, 
Which, from Her Cares, upon Her Subjeils flow. 

vni. 

For Thy own Glory sing our Soveraign's Praise, 
God of Verses and of Days : 
Let all Thy tuneful Sons adorn 

Their lasting Work with William's Name : 
Let chosen Muses yet unborn 
Take great Maria for their future Theme : 
Eternal Struilures let Them raise, 
On William's and Maria's Praise : 
Nor want new Subje6l for the Song; 

Nor fear they can exhaust the Store ; 
'Till Nature's Musick lyes unstrung ; 
'Till Thou, great God, shalt lose Thy double Pow'r ; 
And touch Thy Lyre, and shoot Thy Beams no more. 
24 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

THE 
LADY'S LOOKING-GLASS. 



CELIA and I the other Day 
Walk'd o'er the Sand-Hills to the Sea: 
The setting Sun adorn'd the Coast, 
His Beams entire, his Fierceness lost : 
And, on the Surface of the Deep, 
The Winds lay only not asleep : 
The Nymph did like the Scene appear. 
Serenely pleasant, calmly fair : 
Soft fell her words, as flew the Air. 
With secret Joy I heard Her say. 
That She would never miss one Day 
A Walk so fine, a Sight so gay. 

But, oh the Change ! the Winds grow high 
Impending Tempests charge the Sky : 
The Lightning flies : the Thunder roars : 
And big Waves lash the frighten'd Shoars. 
Struck with the Horror of the Sight, 
She turns her Head, and wings her Flight; 
And trembling vows, She'll ne'er again 
Approach the Shoar, or view the Main. 

Once more at least look back, said I ; 
Thy self in That large Glass descry : 
When Thou art in good Humour drest ; 
When gentle Reason rules thy Breast ; 
The Sun upon the calmest Sea 
Appears not half so bright as Thee : 
'Tis then, that with Delight I rove 
Upon the boundless Depth of Love : 
I bless my Chain : I hand my Oar ; 
Nor think on all I left on Shoar. 



25 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

But when vain Doubt, and groundless Fear 
Do That Dear Foolish Bosom tear; 
When the big Lip, and wat'ry Eye 
Tell Me, the rising Storm is nigh : 
Tis then. Thou art yon' angry Main, 
Deform'd by Winds, and dash'd by Rain ; 
And the poor Sailor that must try 
Its Fury, labours less than I. 

Shipwreclc'd, in vain to Land I make ; 
While Love and Fate still drive Me back : 
Forc'd to doat on Thee thy own Way, 
I chide Thee first, and then obey : 
Wretched when from Thee, vex'd when nigh, 
I with Thee, or without Thee, die. 



LOFE and FRIENDSHIP, 

A 
PASTORAL. 

By Mrs. Elizabeth Singer. 

AMARYLLIS. 

WHILE from the Skies the ruddy Sun descends: 
And rising Night the Ev'ning Shade extends: 
While pearly Dews o'erspread the fruitful Field; 
And closing Flowers reviving Odors yield ; 
Let Us, beneath these spreading Trees, recite 
What from our Hearts our Muses may indite. 
Nor need We, in this close Retirement, fear, 
Lest any Swain our am'rous Secrets hear. 

SILFIA. 
To ev'ry Shepherd I would Mine proclaim; 
Since fair Aminta is my softest Theme: 
A Stranger to the loose Delights of Love, 
My Thoughts the nobler Warmth of Friendship prove: 
And while it's pure and sacred Fire I sing; 
Chast Goddess of the Groves, Thy Succour bring. 



26 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

AMARTLLIS. 
Propitious God of Love, my Breast inspire 
With all Thy Charms, with all Thy pleasing Fire: 
Propitious God of Love, Thy Succour bring ; 
Whilst I Thy Darling, Thy Alexis sing; 
Alexis, as the ope'ning Blossoms fair. 
Lovely as Light, and soft as yielding Air. 
For Him each Virgin sighs ; and on the Plains 
The happy Youth above each Rival reigns. 
Nor to the Ecchoing Groves, and whisp'ring Spring, 
In sw^eeter Strains does artful CoxoN sing; 
When loud Applauses fill the crowded Groves; 
And Phoebus the superior Song approves. 

SILVIA. 
Beauteous Aminta is as early Light, 
Breaking the melancholy Shades of Night. 
When She is near, all anxious Trouble flies; 
And our reviving Hearts confess her Eyes. 
Young Love, and blooming Joy, and gay Desires, 
In ev'ry Breast the beauteous Nymph inspires: 
And on the Plain when She no more appears ; 
The Plain a dark and gloomy Prospefl wears. 
In vain the Streams roll on : the Eastern Breeze 
Dances in vain among the trembling Trees. 
In vain the Birds begin their Ev'ning Song, 
And to the silent Night their Notes prolong : 
Nor Groves, nor chrystal Streams, nor verdant Field 
Does wonted Pleasure in Her Absence yield. 

AMARYLLIS. 
And in His Absence, all the pensive Day, 
In some obscure Retreat 1 lonely stray ; 
All Day to the repeating Caves complain. 
In mournful Accents, and a dying Strain. 
Dear lovely Youth ! I cry to all around : 
Dear lovely Youth ! the flatt'ring Vales I'esound. 

SILFIA. 
On flow'ry Banks, by ev'ry murm'ring Stream, 
Aminta is my Muse's softest Theme: 
'Tis She that does my artful Notes refine: 
With fair Aminta's Name my noblest Verse shall shine. 

AMARYLLIS. 
I'll twine fresh Garlands for Alexis' Brows, 
And consecrate to Him eternal Vows: 
The charming Youth shall my Apollo prove: 
He shall adorn my Songs, and tune my Voice to Love. 



27 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
TO THE 

AUTHOR 

OF THE 

Foregoing PASTORAL. 



BY Silvia if thy charming Self be meant ; 
If Friendship be thy Virgin Vows Extent ; 
O ! let me in Aminta's Praises join : 
Her's my Esteem shall be, my Passion Thine. 
When for Thy Head the Garland I prepare ; 
A second Wreath shall bind Aminta's Hair : 
And when my choicest Songs Thy Worth proclaim ; 
Alternate Verse shall bless Aminta's Name : 
My Heart shall own the Justice of Her Cause j 
And Love himself submit to Friendship's Laws. 

But if beneath thy Numbers soft Disguise, 
Some favor'd Swain, some true Alexis lyes ; 
If Amaryllis breaths thy secret Pains ; 
And thy fond Heart beats Measure to thy Strains : 
May'st thou, howe'er I grieve, for ever find 
The Flame propitious, and the Lover kind : 
May Venus long exert her happy Pow'r, 
And make thy Beauty, like thy Verse, endure : 
May ev'ry God his friendly Aid afford ; 
Pan guard thy Flock, and Ceres bless thy Board. 

But if by chance the Series of thy Joys 
Permit one Thought less chearful to arise ; 
Piteous transfer it to the mournful Swain, 
Who loving much, who not belov'd again. 
Feels an ill-fated Passion's last Excess ; 
And dies in Woe, that Thou may'st live in Peace. 



28 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



To a LADY: 

She refusing to continue a Dispute with me, and 
leaving me in the Argument. 

An ODE. 



I. 

SPARE, Gen'rous Vi6lor, spare the Slave, 
Who did unequal War pursue ; 
That more than Triumph He might have, 
In being overcome by You. 

II. 

In the Dispute whate'er I said, 

My Heart was by my Tongue bely'd ; 

And in my Looks You might have read. 
How much I argu'd on your side. 

III. 

You, far from Danger as from Fear, 

Might have sustain'd an open Fight : 
For seldom your Opinions err : 

Your Eyes are always in the right. 

IV. 

Why, fair One, would You not rely 

On Reason's Force with Beauty's join'd ? 

Could I their Prevalence deny ; 
I must at once be deaf and blind. 

29 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

V. 

Alas ! not hoping to subdue, 

I only to the Fight aspir'd : 
To keep the beauteous Foe in view 

Was all the Glory I desir'd. 

VI. 
But She, howe'er of Vift'ry sure, 

Contemns the Wreath too long delay 'd ; 
And, arm'd with more immediate Pow'r, 

Calls cruel Silence to her Aid. 

VII. 
Deeper to wound. See shuns the Fight : 

She drops her Arms, to gain the Field : 
Secures her Conquest by her Flight ; 

And triumphs, when She seems to yield. 

VIII. 

So when the Parthian turn'd his Steed, 
And from the Hostile Camp withdrew ; 

With cruel Skill the backward Reed 
He sent ; and as He fled. He slew. 



SEEING THE 

DUKE of ORMONDE 
PICTURE, 

AT 
Sir GODFRET KNELLER's. 

OUT from the injur'd Canvas, Kneller, strike 
These Lines too faint : the Picture is not like. 
Exalt thy Thought, and try thy Toil again : 
Dreadful in Arms, on Landen's glorious Plain 
Place Ormond's Duke: impendent in the Air 
Let His keen Sabre, Comet-like, appear, 

30 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Where-e'er it points, denouncing Death : below 
Draw routed Squadrons, and the num'rous Foe 
FalHng beneath, or flying from His Blow: 
'Till weak with Wounds, and cover'd o'er with Blood, 
Which from the Patriot's Breast in Torrents flowed. 
He faints: His Steed no longer hears the Rein; 
But stumbles o'er the Heap, His Hand had slain. 
And now exhausted, bleeding, pale He lyes; 
Lovely, sad Objeft ! in His half-clos' Eyes 
Stern Vengeance yet, and Hostile Terror stand : 
His Front yet threatens ; and His Frowns command : 
The Gallick Chiefs their Troops around Him call ; 
Fear to approach Him, tho' they see Him fall. 

O Kneller, could Thy Shades and Lights express 
The perfeft Hero in that glorious Dress; 
Ages to come might Ormond's Pidlure know; 
And Palms for Thee beneath His Lawrels grow: 
In spight of Time Thy Work might ever shine; 
Nor Homer's Colors last so long as Thine. 



CELIA 

TO 

DAMON. 

Atque in Amore mala h^ec proprio^ summeque secundo 
Inveniuntur Lucret. Lib. 4. 

WHAT can I say? What Arguments can prove 
My Truth ? What Colors can describe my Love ? 
If it's Excess and Fury be not known, 
In what Thy Celia has already done. 

Thy Infant Flames, whilst yet they were conceal'd 
In tim'rous Doubts, with Pity I beheld; 
With easie Smiles dispell'd the silent Fear, 
That durst not tell Me, what I dy'd to hear: 
In vain I strove to check my growing Flame, 
Or shelter Passion under Friendship's Name: 

31 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

You saw my Heart, how it my Tongue bely'd ; 
And when You press'd, how faintly I deny'd 



E'er Guardian Thought could bring it's scatter'd Aid ; 
E'er Reason could support the doubting Maid ; 
My Soul surpriz'd, and from her self disjoin'd, 
Left all Reserve, and all the Sex behind : 
From your Command her Motions She receiv'd ; 
And not for Me, but You, She breath'd and liv'd. 

But ever blest be Cytherea's Shrine; 
And Fires Eternal on Her Altars shine; 
Since Thy dear Breast has felt an equal Wound; 
Since in Thy Kindness my Desires are crown'd. 
By Thy each Look, and Thought, and Care 'tis shown. 
Thy Joys are center'd All in Me Alone ; 
And sure I am. Thou would'st not change this Hour 
For all the white Ones, Fate has in it's Pow'r. 

Yet thus belov'd, thus loving to Excess ; 
Yet thus receiving and returning Bliss; 
In this great Moment, in this golden Now, 
When ev'ry Trace of What, or When, or How 
Should from my Soul by raging Love be torn, 
And far on Swelling Seas of Rapture born ; 
A melancholy Tear afflids my Eye; 
And my Heart labours with a sudden Sigh : 
Livading Fears repel my Coward Joy; 
And Ills foreseen the present Bliss destroy. 

Poor as it is. This Beauty was the Cause, 
That with first Sighs Your panting Bosom rose: 
But with no Owner Beauty long will stay. 
Upon the Wings of Time born swift away: 
Pass but some fleeting Years, and These poor Eyes 
(Where now without a Boast some Lustre lyes) 
No longer shall their little Honors keep; 
Shall only be of use to read, or weep: 
And on this Forehead, where your Verse has said, 
The Loves delighted, and the Graces play'd; 
Insulting Age will trace his cruel Way, 
And leave sad Marks of his destru6live Sway. 

32 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Mov'd by my Charms, with them your Love may cease, 
And as the Fuel sinks, the Flame decrease : 
Or angry Heav'n may quicker Darts prepare; 
And Sickness strike what Time awhile would spare. 
Then will my Swain His glowing Vows renew : 
Then will His throbbing Heart to Mine beat true; 
When my own Face deters Me from my Glass ; 
And Kneller only shows what Celia was. 

Fantastic Fame may sound her wild Alarms : 
Your Country, as You think, may want your Arms. 
You may negleft, or quench, or hate the Flame, 
Whose Smoke too long obscured your rising Name : 
And quickly cold Indiff'rence will ensue ; 
When You Love's Joys thro' Honor's Optic view. 

Then Celia's loudest Pray'r will prove too weak, 
To this abandon 'd Breast to bring You back; 
When my lost Lover the tall Ship ascends, 
With Musick gay, and wet with Jovial Friends: 
The tender Accents of a Woman's Cry 
Will pass unheard, will unreguarded die; 
When the rough Seaman's louder Shouts prevail; 
When fair Occasion shows the springing Gale; 
And Int'rest guides the Helm; and Honor swells the Sail. 

Some wretched Lines from this neglected Hand, 
May find my Hero on the foreign Strand, 
Warm with new Fires^ and pleas'd with new Command: 
While She who wrote 'em, of all Joy bereft, 
To the rude Censure of the World is left; 
Her mangl'd Fame in barb'rous Pastime lost. 
The Coxcomb's Novel, and the Drunkard's Toast. 

But nearer Care (O pardon it!) supplies 
Sighs to my Breast, and Sorrow to my Eyes. 
Love, Love himself (the only Friend I have) 
May scorn his Triumph, having bound his Slave. 
That Tyrant God, that restless Conqueror 
May quit his Pleasure, to assert his Pow'r ; 
Forsake the Provinces that bless his Sway, 
To vanquish Those which will not yet obey. 

P. c 33 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Another Nymph with fatal Pow'r may rise. 
To damp the sinking Beams of Celia's Eyes; 
With haughty Pride may hear Her Charms confest ; 
And scorn the ardent Vows that I have blest : 
You ev'ry Night may sigh for Her in vain ; 
And rise each Morning to some fresh Disdain : 
While Celia's softest Look may cease to Charm ; 
And Her Embraces want the Pow'r to warm : 
While these fond Arms, thus circling You, may prove 
More heavy Chains, than Those of hopeless Love. 

Just Gods ! All other Things their Like produce : 
The Vine arises from her Mother's Juice: 
When feeble Plants, or tender Flow'rs decay; 
They to their Seed their Images convey: 
Where the old Myrtle her good Influence sheds; 
Sprigs of like Leaf ereft their Filial Heads: 
And when the Parent Rose decays, and dies; 
With a resembling Face the Daughter-Buds arise. 
That Product only which our Passions bear. 
Eludes the Planter's miserable Care : 
While blooming Love assures us Golden Fruit; 
Some inborn Poison taints the secret Root: 
Soon fall the Flow'rs of Joy : soon Seeds of Hatred shoot. 

Say, Shepherd, say: Are these Refle6tions true? 
Or was it but the Woman's Fear, that drew 
This cruel Scene, unjust to Love and You ? 
Will You be only, and for ever Mine ? 
Shall neither Time, nor Age our Souls disjoin ? 
From this dear Bosom shall I ne'er be torn ? 
Or You grow cold, respedlful, and forsworn ? 
And can You not for Her You love do more, 
Than any Youth for any Nymph before .'' 



34 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



An ODE. 

Presented to the KING, on his Majesty'j- 
Arrival in Holland, 

AFTER 

The QUEEN'S Death. 1695. 

Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus 
Tam carl capitis ? precipe lugubres 
Cantus, Melpomene. 

I. 
AT Mary's Tomb, (sad, sacred Place !) 
XjL The Virtues shall their Vigils keep: 
And every Muse, and every Grace 
In solemn State shall ever weep. 

II. 

The future, pious, mournful Fair, 

Oft as the rolling Years return, 
With Fragrant Wreaths, and flov^^ing Hair, 

Shall visit Her distinguish'd Urn. 

III. 

For Her the Wise and Great shall mourn ; 

When late Records her Deeds repeat : 
Ages to come, and Men unborn 

Shall bless her Name, and sigh her Fate. 

IV. 

Fair Albion shall, vv^ith faithful Trust, 

Her holy Queen's sad Reliques guard ; 
'Till Heav'n awakes the precious Dust, 

And gives the Saint her full Reward. 

C2 35 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
V. 

But let the King dismiss his Woes, 

Reflefting on his fair Renown ; 
And take the Cypress from his Brows, 

To put his wonted Lawrels on. 

VI. 
If prest by Grief our Monarch stoops ; 

In vain the British Lions roar; 
If He, whose Hand sustain'd them, droops; 

The Belgic Darts will wound no more. 

VII. 

Embattl'd Princes wait the Chief, 

Whose Voice should rule, whose Arm should lead ; 
And, in kind Murmurs, chide That Grief, 

Which hinders Europe being freed. 

vni. 

The great Example They demand. 

Who still to Conquest led the Way; 
Wishing Him present to Command, 

As They stand ready to Obey. 

IX. 
They seek That Joy, which us'd to glow. 

Expanded on the Hero's Face; 
When the thick Squadrons prest the Foe, 

And William led the glorious Chace. 

X. 

To give the mourning Nations Joy, 

Restore Them Thy auspicious Light, 
Great Sun : with radiant Beams destroy 

Those Clouds, which keep Thee from our Sight. 

XL 

Let Thy sublime Meridian Course 

For Mary's setting Rays attone : 
Our Lustre, with redoubl'd Force, 

Must now proceed from Thee alone. 



36 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XII. 

See, Pious King, with difF'rent Strife 
Thy struggling Albion's Bosom torn : 

So much She fears for William's Life, 
That Mary's Fate She dare not mourn. 

XIII. 
Her Beauty, in thy softer Half 

Bury'd and lost, She ought to grieve ; 
But let her Strength in Thee be safe : 

And let Her weep ; but let Her live. 

XIV. 

Thou, Guardian Angel, save the Land 
From thy own Grief, her fiercest Foe ; 

Lest Britain, rescu'd by Thy Hand, 

Should bend and sink beneath Thy Woe. 

XV. 

Her former Triumphs all are vain. 
Unless new Trophies still be sought ; 

And hoary Majesty sustain 

The Battels, which Thy Youth has fought. 

XVI. 
Where now is all That fearful Love, 

Which made Her hate the War's Alarms ? 
That soft Excess, with which She strove 

To keep her Hero in her Arms ? 

XVII. 

While still She chid the coming Spring, 
Which call'd Him o'er His subje6t Seas : 

While, for the Safety of the King, 
She wish'd the Victor's Glory less. 

XVIII. 
'Tis chang'd : 'tis gone : sad Britain now 

Hastens her Lord to Foreign Wars : 
Happy ! if Toils may break His Woe ; 

Or Danger may divert His Cares. 



37 



38 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XIX. 

In Martial Din She drowns her Sighs, 
Lest He the rising Grief should hear : 

She pulls her Helmet o'er her Eyes, 
Lest He should see the falling Tear. 

XX. 

Go, mighty Prince, let France be taught, 
How constant Minds by Grief are try'd ; 

How great the Land, that wept and fought, 
When William led, and Mary dy'd. 

XXL 
Fierce in the Battel make it known. 

Where Death with all his Darts is seen, 
That He can touch Thy Heart with None, 

But That which struck the Beauteous Queen. 

XXII. 

Belgia indulg'd her open Grief, 

While yet her Master was not near ; 

With sullen Pride refus'd Relief, 
And sat Obdurate in Despair. 

XXIII. 
As Waters from her Sluces, flow'd 

Unbounded Sorrow from her Eyes : 
To Earth her bended Front She bow'd, 

And sent her Wailings to the Skies. 

XXIV. 

But when her anxious Lord return'd ; 

Rais'd is her Head ; her Eyes are dry'd : 
She smiles, as William ne'er had mourn 'd : 

She looks, as Marv ne'er had dy'd. 

XXV. 

That Freedom which all Sorrows claim. 
She does for Thy Content resign : 

Her Piety itself would blame ; 

If Her Regrets should waken Thine. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XXVI. 
To cure Thy Woe, She shews Thy Fame ; 

Lest the great Mourner should forget, 
That all the Race, whence Orange came, 

Made Virtue triumph over Fate. 

XXVII. 

William His Country's Cause could fight, 
And with His Blood Her Freedom seal : 

Maurice and Henry guard that Right, 
For which Their pious Parents fell. 

XXVIII. 
How Heroes rise, how Patriots set. 

Thy Father's Bloom and Death may tell : 
Excelling Others These were Great : 

Thou, greater still, must These excell. 

XXIX. 
The last fair Instance Thou must give, 

Whence Nassau's Virtue can be try'd ; 
And shew the World, that Thou can'st live 

Intrepid, as Thy Consort dy'd. 

XXX. 

Thy Virtue, whose resistless Force 

No dire Event could ever stay, 
Must carry on it's destin'd Course ; 

Tho' Death and Envy stop the Way. 

XXXI. 

For Britain's Sake, for Belgia's, live : 
Pierc'd by Their Grief forget Thy own : 

New Toils endure ; new Conquest give ; 

And bring Them Ease, tho' Thou hast None. 

XXXII. 
Vanquish again ; tho' She be gone, 

Whose Garland crown'd the Vi6lor's Hair : 
And Reign ; tho' She has left the Throne, 

Who made Thy Glory worth Thy Care. 



39 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XXXIIL 
Fair Britain never yet before 

Breath'd to her King a useless Pray'r : 
Fond Belgia never did implore, 

While William turn'd averse His Ear. 

XXXIV. 
But should the weeping Hero now 

Relentless to Their Wishes prove ; 
Should He recall, with pleasing Woe, 

The Objeft of his Grief and Love ; 

XXXV. 

Her Face with thousand Beauties blest, 
Her Mind with thousand Virtues stor'd, 

Her Pow'r with boundless Joy confest. 
Her Person only not ador'd : 

XXXVI. 

Yet ought his Sorrow to be checkt ; 

Yet ought his Passions to abate : 
If the great Mourner would refleft, 

Her Glory in her Death compleat. 

XXXVII. 

She was instru6led to command, 

Great King, by long obeying Thee : 

Her Scepter, guided by Thy Hand, 
Preserv'd the Isles, and Rul'd the Sea. 

XXXVIII. 
But oh ! 'twas little, that her Life 

O'er Earth and Water bears thy Fame : 
In Death, 'twas worthy William's Wife, 

Amidst the Stars to fix his Name. 

XXXIX. 

Beyond where Matter moves, or Place 
Receives it's Forms, Thy Virtues rowl : 

From Mary's Glory, Angels trace 
The Beauty of her Part'ner's Soul. 



40 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XL. 

Wise Fate, which does it's Heav'n decree 
To Heroes, when They yield their Breath, 

Hastens Thy Triumph. Half of Thee 
Is Deify'd before thy Death. 

XLI. 

Alone to thy Renown 'tis giv'n. 

Unbounded thro' all Worlds to go : 
While She great Saint rejoices Heav'n ; 

And Thou sustain'st the Orb below. 



IN 
IMITATION 

OF 
ANACREON, 

LET 'em Censure : what care I ? 
^ The Herd of Criticks I defie. 
Let the Wretches know, I write 
Regardless of their Grace, or Spight. 
No, no : the Fair, the Gay, the Young 
Govern the Numbers of my Song. 
All that They approve is sweet : 
And All is Sense, that They repeat. 

Bid the warbling Nine retire : 
Venus, String thy Servant's Lyre : 
Love shall be my endless Theme : 
Pleasure shall triumph over Fame : 
And when these Maxims I decline, 
Apollo, may Thy Fate be Mine : 
May I grasp at empty Praise ; 
And lose the Nymph, to gain the Bays. 



41 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



An ODE. 



I. 

THE Merchant, to secure his Treasure, 
Conveys it in a borrow'd Name : 
EuPHELiA serves to grace my Measure ; 
But Cloe is my real Flame. 

II. 

My softest Verse, my darling Lyre 

Upon Euphelia's Toylet lay ; 
When Cloe noted her Desire, 

That I should sing, that I should play. 

III. 

My Lyre I tune, my Voice I raise ; 

But with my Numbers mix my Sighs : 
And whilst I sing Euphelia's Praise, 

I fix my Soul on Cloe's Eyes. 

IV. 

Fair Cloe blush'd : Euphelia frown'd : 
I sung and gaz'd : I play'd and trembl'd : 

And Venus to the Loves around 

Remarlc'd, how ill We all dissembl'd. 



42 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

ODE 

Sur la Prise 

De NAMUR, 

Par ies Armes du Roy, 
L'Annee 1692. 

Par Monsieur Boileau Despreaux. 
I. 

QUELLE dofte & Sainte yvresse 
Aujourd'huy me fait la loy ? 
Chastes Nymphes du Permesse, 
N'est-ce pas vous que je voy ? 
Accourez, Troupe Sgavante: 
Des sons que ma Lyre enfante; 
Ces Arbres sont rejouis : 
Marquez en bien la cadence: 
Et vous, Vents, faites Silence: 
Je vais Parler de Louis. 

IL 
Dans ses chansons immortelles, 
Comme un Aigle audacieux, 
PiNDARE etendant ses aisles, 
Fuit loin des Vulgaires yeux. 
Mais, 6 ma fidele Lyre. 
Si, dans I'ardeur qui m'inspire, 
Tu peux suivre mes Transports ; 
Les chesnes de Monts de Thrace 
N'ont rien oiii, que n'efFace 
La douceur de tes accords. 

43 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



III. 

Est-ce Apollon & Neptune, 
Qui sur ces Rocs Sourcilleux 
Out, compagnons de Fortune, 
Basti ces Murs orgueilleux ? 
De leur enceinte fameuse 
La Sambre unie a la Meuse, 
DefFend la fatal abord ; 
Et par cent bouches horribles 
L'airain sur ces Monts terribles 
Vomit le Fer, & la Mort. 

IV. 

Dix mille vaillans Alcides 
Les bordant de toutes parts, 
D'eclairs au loin homicides 
Font petiller leurs Rem parts : 
Et dans son Sein infidele 
Par tout la Terre y recele 
Un feu prest a s'elancer, 
Qiii soudain per9ant son goufre, 
Ouvre un Sepulchre de soufre 
A quiconque ose avancer. 

V. 

Namur, devant tes murailles 
Jadis la Grece eust vingt Ans 
Sans fruit veu les funerailles 
De ses plus fiers Combattans. 
Quelle effroyable Puissance 
Aujourd-huy pourtant s'avance, 
Preste a foudroyer tes monts? 
Quel bruit, quel feu I'environne? 
C'est Jupiter en Personne; 
Ou c'est le Vainqueur de Mons. 

VI. 

N'en doute point : c'est luy-mesme. 
Tout brille en luy ; Tout est Roy. 
Dans Bruxelks Nassau bleme 
Commence a trembler pour Toy. 
En vain il voit le Batdve, 
Desormais docile Esclave, 
Range Sous ses ctendars : 
En vain au Lion Belgique 
II voit I'Aigle Germamque 
Uni Sous les Leopards. 



44 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

VII. 

Plein de la frayeur nouvelle, 
Dont ses sens sont agites, 
A son secours il appelle 
Les Pen pies les plus vantez. 
Ceux-la viennent du rivage, 
Ou s'enorgueillit le Tage 
De I'or, qui roule en ses eaux ; 
Ceux-ci des champs, ou la neige 
Des marais de la Nor-vege 
Neuf mois couvre les roseaux. 

VIII. 

Mais qui fait enfler la Sambre? 

Sous les yumeaux effrayez, 

Des froids Torrens de Decembre 

Les Champs par tout sont noyez. 

Ceres s'enfuit, eploree 

De voir en proye a Boree 

Ses guerets d'epics chargez, 

Et Sous les Urnes fangeuses 

Des Hyades orageuses 

Tous ses Tresors submergez. 

IX. 

Deployez toutes vos rages, 
Princes, Vents, Peuples, Frimats; 
Ramassez tous vos nuages ; 
Rassamblez tous vos Soldats. 
Malgre vous Namur en poudre 
S'en va tomber Sous la foudre 
Qui domta Lille^ Courtray, 
Gand la Superbe Espagnole, 
Saint Omer, Bezarifon, Dole, 
Tpres, Mastricht, & Cambray. 



Mes presages s'accomplissent : 
II commence a chanceler: 
Sous les coups qui retentissent 
Ses Murs s'en vont s'ecrouler. 
Mars en feu qui les domine, 
Souffle a grand bruit leur ruine ; 
Et les Bombes dans les airs 
Allant chercer le tonnere, 
Semblent tombant sur la Terre, 
Vouloir s'ouvrir les Enfers. 



45 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



XI. 

Accourez, Nassau, Baviere, 
De ces Murs I'linique espoir : 
A convert d'une Riviere 
Venez : vous pouvez tout voir. 
Considerez ces approches: 
Voyez grimper sur ces roches 
Ces Athletes belliqueux ; 
Et dans les Eaux, dans la Flame, 
Louis a tout donnant Tame, 
Marcher, courir avecque eux. 

XII. 

Contemplez dans la tempeste, 
Qui sort de ces Boulevars, 
La Plume qui sur sa teste 
Attire tons les regards. 
A cet Astre redoutable 
Toujours un soil favorable 
S'attache dans les Combats: 
Et toujours avec la Gloire 
Mars amenant la Vi6loire 
Vole, & le suit a grands pas. 

XIII. 

Grands DefFenseurs de VEspagne, 
Montrez-vous : il en est temps: 
Courage ; vers la Mahagne 
Voila vos Drapeaux flottans. 
Jamais ses ondes craintives 
N'ont veu sur leurs foibles rives 
Tant de guerriers s'amasser. 
Courez done : Qui vous retarde ? 
Tout rUnivers vous regarde. 
N'osez-vous la traverser? 

XIV. 

Loin de fermer la passage 

A vos nombreux bataillons, 

Luxembourg a du rivage 

Recule ses pavilions. 

Quoy ? leur seul aspeft vous glace ? 

Ou sont ces chefs pleins d'audace, 

Jadis si prompts a marcher, 

Qui devoient de la Tamise, 

Et de la Drdve Soiimise, 

Jusqu' a Paris nous chercher ? 



46 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XV. 
Cependant I'effroy redouble 
Sur les Remparts de Namur. 
Son Gouverneur qui se trouble 
S'enfuit sous son dernier mur. 
Deja jusques a ses portes 
Je voy monter nos cohortes, 
La Flame & le Fer en main : 
Et sur les iMonceaux de piques, 
De Corps morts, de Rocs, de Briques, 
S'ouvrir un large chemin. 

XVI. 

C'en est fait. Je viens d'entendre 
Sur ces Rochers eperdus 
Battre un Signal pour se rendre : 
Le Feu cesse. lis sont rendus. 
Depoiiillez votre arrogance, 
Fiers Ennemis de la France, 
Et desormais gracieux, 
AUez a Liege, a Briixelles, 
Porter les humbles nouvelles 
De Namur pris a vox yeux. 



An English BALLAD, 
On the Taking of 

NAMUR 

By the King of Great Britain, 
1695. 

Duke est desipere in loco. 

I and 11. 

SOME Folks are drunk, yet do not know it : 
So might not Bacchus give You Law ? 
Was it a Muse, O lofty Poet, 
Or Virgin of St. Cyr, You saw ? 

47 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Why all this Fury ? What's the Matter, 

That Oaks niust come from Thrace to dance ? 
Must stupid Stocks be taught to flatter ? 

And is there no such Wood in France ? 
Why must the Winds all hold their Tongue ? 

If they a little Breath should raise ; 
Would that have spoil'd the Poet's Song ; 

Or puff'd away the Monarch's Praise ? 

m 

Pindar, that Eagle, mounts the Skies ; 

While Virtue leads the noble Way : 
Too like a Vultur Boileau flies, 

Where sordid Interest shows the Prey. 
When once the Poet's Honour ceases. 

From Reason far his Transports rove : 
And Boileau, for eight hundred Pieces, 

Makes Louis take the Wall of Jove. 

III. 
Neptune and Sol came from above, 

Shap'd like Megrigny and Vauban : 
They arm'd these Rocks ; then show'd old Jove 

Of Marli Wood, the Wond'rous Plan. 
Such Walls, these three wise Gods agreed. 

By Human Force could ne'er be shaken : 
But You and I in Homer read 

Of Gods, as well as Men, mistaken. 
Sambre and Maese their Waves may join ; 

But ne'er can William's Force restrain : 
He'll pass them Both, who pass'd the Boyn : 

Remember this, and arm the Sein. 

IV. 

Full fifteen thousand lusty Fellows 

With Fire and Sword the Fort maintain : 
Each was a Hercules, You tell us; 

Yet out they march'd like common Men. 
Cannons above, and Mines below 

Did Death and Tombs for Foes contrive : 
Yet Matters have been order'd so. 

That most of Us are still alive. 



48 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

V. 

If Namur be compar'd to Troy ; 

Then Britain's Boys excell'd the Greeks : 
Their Siege did ten long Years employ : 

We've done our Bus'ness in ten Weeks. 
What Godhead does so fast advance, 

With dreadful Povv^'r those Hills to gain ? 
'Tis little Will, the Scourge of France \ 

No Godhead, but the first of Men. 
His mortal Arm exerts the Pow'r, 

To keep ev'n Mons's Vi6lor under : 
And that same Jupiter no more 

Shall fright the World with impious Thunder. 
VI. 
Our King thus trembles at Namur, 

Whilst ViLLERoy, who ne'er afraid is, 
To Bruxelles marches on secure, 

To bomb the Monks, and scare the Ladies. 
After this glorious Expedition, 

One Battle makes the Marshal Great : 
He must perform the King's Commission : 

Who knows, but Orange may retreat ? 
Kings are allow'd to feign the Gout, 

Or be prevail'd with not to Fight : 
And mighty Louis hop'd, no doubt. 

That William wou'd preserve that Right. 

VIL 

From Seyn and Loyre, to Rhone and Po^ 

See every Mother's Son appear : 
In such a Case ne'er blame a Foe, 

If he betrays some little Fear. 
He comes, the mighty Vill'roy comes ; 

Finds a small River in his Way : 
So waves his Colours, beats his Drums ; 

And thinks it prudent there to stay. 
The Gallic Troops breath Blood and War : 

The Marshal cares not to march faster : 
Poor Vill'roy moves so slowly here, 

We fancy'd all, it was his Master. 

P. D 49 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

VIII. 
Will no kind Flood, no friendly Rain 

Disguise the Marshal's plain Disgrace ? 
No Torrents swell the low Mehayne ? 

The World will say, he durst not pass. 
Why will no Hyades appear, 

Dear Poet, on the Banks of Sombre ? 
Just as they did that mighty Year, 

When You turn'd "June into December. 
The W-dter-Nymphs are too unkind 

To Vill'roy ; are the Lznd-Nymphs so ? 
And fly They All, at Once Combin'd 

To shame a General, and a Beau ? 

IX. 
Truth, Justice, Sense, Religion, Fame 

May join to finish William's Story : 
Nations set free may bless his Name ; 

And France in Secret own his Glory. 
But Ipres^ Mastrich^ and Cambray^ 

Besa7ipn^ Ghent, St. Omers, Lysle, 
Courtray, and Dole Ye Criticks, say, 

How poor to this was Pindar's Style ? 
With Eke's and Also's tack thy Strain, 

Great Bard ; and sing the deathless Prince, 
Who lost Namur the same Campaign, 

He bought Dix?nude, and plunder'd Deynse. 
X. 
I'll hold Ten Pound, my Dream is out : 

I'd tell it You, but for the Rattle 
Of those confounded Drums : no doubt 

Yon' bloody Rogues intend a Battel. 
Dear me ! a hundred thousand French 

With Terror fill the neighb'ring Field ; 
While William carries on the Trench, 

'Till both the Town and Castle yield. 
Vill'roy to Boufflers should advance. 

Says Mars, thro' Cannons Mouths in Fire ; 
Id esty one Mareschal of France 

Tells t'other, He can come no nigher. 



.50 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XL 

Regain the Lines the shortest Way, 

Vill'roy ; or to Versailles take Post : 
For, having seen it, Thou can'st say 

The Steps, by which Namur was lost. 
The Smoke and Flame may vex thy Sight : 

Look not once back : but as thou goest, 
Quicken the Squadrons in their Flight ; 

And bid the D 1 take the slowest. 

Think not what Reason to produce. 

From Louis to conceal thy Fear : 
He'll own the Strength of thy Excuse ; 

Tell him that William was but there. 

XIL 

Now let us look for Louis' Feather, 

That us'd to shine so like a Star : 
The Gen'rals could not get together. 

Wanting that Influence, great in War. 
O Poet ! Thou had'st been discreeter, 

Hanging the Monarch's Hat so high ; 
If Thou had'st dubb'd thy Star, a Meteor, 

That did but blaze, and rove, and die. 

XIII. 

To animate the doubtful Fight, 

Namur- in vain expefts that Ray : 
In vain France hopes, the sickly Light 

Shou'd shine near William's fuller Day. 
It knows Versailles^ it's proper Station ; 

Nor cares for any foreign Sphere : 
Where You see Boileau's Constellation, 

Be sure no Danger can be near. 

XIV. 

The French had gather'd all their Force ; 

And William met them in their Way : 
Yet off they brush'd, both Foot and Horse. 

What has Friend Boileau left to say ? 

D 2 51 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

When his high Muse is bent upon't, 

To sing her King, that Great Commander, 
Or on the Shores of Hellespont^ 

Or in the Valleys near Scamander ; 
Wou'd it not spoil his noble Task, 

If any foolish Phrygian there is, 
Impertinent enough to ask, 

How far Namur may be from Paris ? 

XV. 

Two Stanza's more before we end. 

Of Death, Pikes, Rocks, Arms, Bricks, and Fire 
Leave 'em behind You, honest Friend : 

And with your Country-Men retire. 
Your Ode is spoilt ; Natnur is freed ; 

For Dixmuyd something yet is due : 
So good Count Guise ARD may proceed ; 

But BouFFLERS, Sir, one Word with you. 

XVI. 

'Tis done. In Sight of these Commanders, 

Who neither Fight, nor raise the Siege, 
The Foes of France march safe thro' Flanders ; 

Divide to Bruxelles^ or to Liege. 
Send, Fame, this News to Trianon ; 

That BouFFLERs may new Honours gain : 
He the same Play by Land has shown, 

As TouRViLLE did upon the Main. 
Yet is the Marshal made a Peer : 

O William, may thy Arms advance ; 
That He may lose Dinant next Year, 

And so be Constable of France. 



52 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 
Presented to the 

KING, 

AT HIS 

ARRIVAL in HOLLAND, 

AFTER THE 

Discovery of the Conspiracy 

1696. 

Serus in ccelum redeas ; diuque 
L(€tus intersis populo Quirini : 
Neve Te nostris vitiis iniquum 

Ocyor aura 
Tollat — Hor. ad Augustum. 

YE careful Angels, whom eternal Fate 
Ordains, on Earth and human A6ls to wait j 
Who turn with secret Pow'r this restless Ball, 
And bid predestin'd Empires rise and fall : 
Your sacred Aid religious Monarchs own ; 
When first They merit, then ascend the Throne : 
But Tyrants dread Ye, lest your just Decree 
Transfer the Pow'r, and set the People free : 
See rescu'd Britain at your Altars bow : 
And hear her Hymns your happy Care avow : 
That still her Axes and her Rods support 
The Judge's Frown, and grace the awful Court : 
That Law with all her pompous Terror stands. 
To wrest the Dagger from the Traitor's Hands ; 
And rigid Justice reads the fatal Word ; 
Poises the Ballance first, then draws the Sword. 

53 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Britain Her Safety to your Guidance owns, 
That She can sep'rate Parricides from Sons ; 
That, impious Rage disarm'd, She lives and Reigns, 
Her Freedom kept by Him, who broke Her Chains. 

And Thou, great Minister, above the rest 
Of Guardian Spirits, be Thou for ever blest : 
Thou, who of old wert sent to Israel's Court, 
With secret Aid great David's strong Support ; 
To mock the frantick Rage of cruel Saul ; 
And strike the useless Jav'lin to the Wall. 
Thy later Care o'er William's Temples held. 
On Bovn's propitious Banks, the heav'nly Shield ; 
When Pow'r Divine did Sov'reign Right declare ; 
And Cannons mark'd. Whom They were bid to spare. 

Still, blessed Angel, be thy Care the same ; 
Be William's Life untouch'd, as is his Fame : 
Let Him own Thine, as Britain owns His Hand : 
Save Thou the King, as He has sav'd the Land. 

We Angels Forms in pious Monarchs view : 
We reverence William ; for He a6ls like You ; 
Like You, Commission'd to chastize and bless. 
He must avenge the World, and give it Peace. 

Indulgent Fate our potent Pray'r receives ; 
And still Britannia smiles, and William lives : 
The Hero dear to Earth, by Heav'n belov'd. 
By Troubles must be vex'd, by Dangers prov'd : 
His Foes must aid to make his Fame compleat, 
And fix his Throne secure on their Defeat. 

So, tho' with sudden Rage the Tempest comes ; 
Tho' the Winds roar; and tho' the Water foams; 
Imperial Britain on the Sea looks down. 
And smiling sees her Rebel Subje6t frown : 
Striking her Cliff the Storm confirms her Pow'r: 
The Waves but whiten her Triumphant Shore: 
In vain They wou'd advance, in vain retreat : 
Broken They dash, and perish at her Feet. 



54 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

For William still new Wonders shall be shown : 
The Pow'rs that rescu'd, shall preserve the Throne. 
Safe on his Darling Britain's joyful Sea, 
Behold, the Monarch plows his liquid Way : 
His Fleets in Thunder thro' the World declare. 
Whose Empire they obey, whose Arms they bear. 
Bless'd by aspiring Winds He finds the Strand 
Blacken'd with Crowds ; He sees the Nations stand 
Blessing his Safety, proud of his Command. 
In various Tongues He hears the Captains dwell 
On their great Leader's Praise : by Turns They tell, 
And listen, each with emulous Glory fir'd. 
How William conquer'd, and how France retir'd ; 
How Belgia freed the Hero's Arm confess'd. 
But trembl'd for the Courage which She blest. 

O Louis, from this great Example know, 
To be at once a Hero, and a Foe : 
By sounding Trumpets, Hear, and ratl'ing Drums, 
When William to the open Vengeance comes : 
And See the Soldier plead the Monarch's Right, 
Heading His Troops, and Foremost in the Fight. 

Hence then, close Ambush and perfidious War, 
Down to your Nati\e Seats of Night repair. 
And Thou, Bellona, weep thy cruel Pride 
Restrain'd, behind the Vi6lor's Chariot ty'd 
In brazen Knots, and everlasting Chains. 
(So Europe's Peace, so William's Fate ordains.) 
While on the Iv'ry Chair, in happy State 
He sits. Secure in Innocence, and Great 
In regal Clemency ; and views beneath 
Averted Darts of Rage, and pointless Arms of Death. 



55 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



To CLOE Weeping. 

SEE, whilst Thou weep'st, fair Cloe, see 
The World in Sympathy with Thee. 
The chearful Birds no longer sing, 
Each drops his Head, and hangs his Wing. 
The Clouds have bent their Bosom lower, 
And shed their Sorrows in a Show'r. 
The Brooks beyond their Limits flow ; 
And louder Murmurs speak their Woe. 
The Nymphs and Swains adopt Thy Cares: 
They heave Thy Sighs, and weep Thy Tears. 
Fantastic Nymph ! that Grief should move 
Thy Heart, obdurate against Love. 
Strange Tears ! whose Pow'r can soften All, 
But That dear Breast on which they fall. 



TO 
Mr. HOWARD: 

An ODE. 

L 

DEAR Howard, from the soft assaults of Love, 
Poets and Painters never are Secure : 
Can I untouched the Fair ones Passions move ? 
Or Thou draw Beauty, and not feel it's Pow'r ? 

n. 

To Great Apelles when Young Ammon brought 
The darling Idol of his Captive Heart ; 

And the pleas'd Nymph with kind Attention sat, 
To have Her Charms recorded by His Art : 



56 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

III. 

The am'rous Master own'd Her potent Eyes ; 

Sigh'd when He look'd, and trembl'd as He drew: 
Each flowing Line confirm'd his first Surprize ; 

And as the Piece advanc'd, the Passion grew. 

IV. 

While Philip's Son, while Venus' Son was near, 
What different Tortures does his Bosom feel ? 

Great was the Rival, and the God severe : 

Nor could He hide his Flame, nor durst reveal. 

V. 

The Prince, renown'd in Bounty as in Arms, 
With Pity saw the ill-conceal'd Distress ; 

Quitted His Title to Campaspe's Charms, 

And gave the Fair one to the Friend's Embrace. 

VI. 

Thus the more beauteous Cloe sat to Thee, 
Good Howard, emu'lous of the Gr-scian Art : 

But happy Thou, from Cupid's Arrow free. 

And Flames that pierc'd Thy Predecessor's Heart. 

VII. 

Had Thy poor Breast receiv'd an equal Pain ; 

Had I been vested with the Monarch's Pow'r ; 
Thou must have sigh'd, unlucky Youth, in vain ; 

Nor from My Bounty hadst Thou found a Cure. 

VIII. 

Tho' to convince Thee, that the Friend did feel 
A kind Concern for Thy ill-fated Care, 

I would have sooth'd the Flame, I could not heal ; 
Giv'n Thee the World ; tho' I with-held the Fair. 



57 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



LOVE Disarm'd. 

BENEATH a Myrtle's verdant Shade 
As Cloe half asleep was laid, 
Cupid perch'd lightly on Her Breast, 
And in That Heav'n desir'd to rest: 
Over her Paps his Wings He spread : 
Between He found a downy Bed, 
And nestl'd in His little Head. 

Still lay the God : The Nymph surpriz'd. 
Yet Mistress of her self, devis'd, 
How She the Vagrant might inthral. 
And Captive Him, who Captives All, 

Her Boddice half way She unlac'd : 
About his Arms She slily cast 
The silken Bond, and held Him fast. 

The God awak'd ; and thrice in vain 
He strove to break the cruel Chain ; 
And thrice in vain He shook his Wing, 
Incumber'd in the silken String. 

Flutt'ring the God, and weeping said. 
Pity poor Cupid, generous Maid, 
Who happen'd, being Blind, to stray. 
And on thy Bosom lost his Way : 
Who stray'd, alas ! but knew too well, 
He never There must hope to dwell. 
Set an unhappy Pris'ner free, 
Who ne'er intended Harm to Thee. 

To Me pertains not, She replies. 
To know or care where Cupid flies ; 
What are his Haunts, or which his Way ; 
Where He would dwell, or whither stray : 
Yet will I never set Thee free : 
For Harm was meant, and Harm to Me. 

Vain Fears that vex thy Virgin Heart ! 
ril give Thee up my Bow and Dart : 
Untangle but this cruel Chain, 
And freely let Me fly again. 



58 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Agreed : Secure my Virgin Heart : 
Instant give up thy Bow and Dart : 
The Chain I'll in Return unty ; 
And freely Thou again shalt fly. 

Thus She the Captive did deliver : 
The Captive thus gave up his Quiver. 

The God disarm'd, e'er since that Day 
Passes his Life in harmless Play ; 
Flies round, or sits upon her Breast, 
A little, flutt'ring, idle Guest. 

E'er since that Day the beauteous Maid 
Governs the World in Cupid's stead ; 
Dire61:s his Arrow as She wills ; 
Gives Grief, or Pleasure ; spares, or kills. 



CLOE HUNTING. 

BEHIND her Neck her comely Tresses ty'd. 
Her Iv'ry Quiver graceful by her Side, 
A-Hunting Cloe went : She lost her Way, 
And thro' the Woods uncertain chanc'd to stray. 
Apollo passing by beheld the Maid ; 
And, Sister Dear, bright Cynthia turn. He said : 
The hunted Hind lyes close in yonder Brake. 
Loud Cupid laugh'd, to see the God's Mistake ; 
And laughing cry'd. Learn better, great Divine, 
To know Thy Kindred, and to honour Mine. 
Rightly advis'd, far hence Thy Sister seek. 
Or on Meander's Bank, or Latmus' Peak. 
But in This Nymph, My Friend, My Sister know : 
She draws My Arrows, and She bends My Bow : 
Fair Thames She haunts, and ev'ry neighb'ring Grove 
Sacred to soft Recess, and gentle Love. 
Go, with Thy Cynthia, hurl the pointed Spear 
At the rough Boar ; or chace the flying Deer : 
I and My Cloe take a nobler Aim : 
At human Hearts We fling, nor ever miss the Game. 

59 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



CUPID and GANYMEDE. 



IN Heav'n, one Holy-day, You read 
In wise Anacreon^ Ganymede 
Drew heedless Cupid in, to throw 
A Main, to pass an Hour, or so. 
The little Trojan, by the way, 
By Hermes taught, play'd All the Play. 

The God unhappily engag'd. 
By Nature rash, by Play enrag'd, 
Complain'd, and sigh'd, and cry'd, and fretted ; 
Lost ev'ry earthly thing He betted : 
In ready Mony, all the Store 
Pick'd up long since from Danae's Show'r ; 
A Snush-Box, set with bleeding Hearts, 
Rubies, all pierc'd with Diamond Darts ; 
His Nine-pins, made of Myrtle Wood ; 
(The Tree in Ida's Forest stood) 
His Bowl pure Gold, the very same 
Which Paris gave the Cyprian Dame ; 
Two Table-Books in Shagreen Covers ; 
Fill'd with good Verse from real Lovers j 
Merchandise rare ! A Billet-doux, 
It's Matter passionate, yet true : 
Heaps of Hair Rings, and cypher'd Seals ; 
Rich Trifles ; serious Bagatelles. 

What sad Disorders Play begets ! 
Desp'rate and mad, at length He sets 
Those Darts, whose Points make Gods adore 
His Might, and deprecate his Pow'r : 
Those Darts, whence all our Joy and Pain 

Arise : those Darts come. Seven's the Main, 

Cries Ganymede : The usual Trick : 
Seven, slur a Six ; Eleven : A Nick. 



60 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

111 News goes fast : 'Twas quickly known, 
That simple Cupid was undone. 
Swifter than Lightning Venus flew : 
Too late She found the thing too true. 
Guess how the Goddess greets her Son : 
Come hither, Sirrah ; no, begon ; 
And, hark Ye, is it so indeed ? 
A Comrade You for Ganymede ? 
An Imp as wicked, for his Age, 
As any earthly Lady's Page ; 
A Scandal and a Scourge to Troy : 
A Prince's Son ? A Black-guard Boy : 
A Sharper, that with Box and Dice 
Draws in young Deities to Vice. 
All Heav'n is by the Ears together. 
Since first That little Rogue came hither : 
Juno her self has had no Peace : 
And truly I've been favour'd less : 
For Jove, as Fame reports, (but Fame 
Says things not fit for Me to name) 
Has a6led ill for such a God, 
And taken Ways extreamly odd. 

And Thou, unhappy Child, She said 
(Her Anger by her Grief allay'd) 
Unhappy Child, who thus hast lost 
All the Estate We e'er could boast ; 
Whither, O whither wilt Thou run. 
Thy Name despis'd, thy Weakness known .? 
Nor shall thy Shrine on Earth be crown'd : \ 

Nor shall thy Pow'r in Heav'n be own'd ; l 

When Thou, nor Man, nor God can'st wound. j 

Obedient Cupid kneeling cry'd. 
Cease, dearest Mother, cease to chide : 
Gany's a Cheat, and I'm a Bubble : 
Yet why this great Excess of Trouble ? 
The Dice were false : the Darts are gone : 
Yet how are You, or I undone ? 

6i 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The Loss of These I can supply 
With keener Shafts from Cloe's Eye : 
Fear not, We e'er can be disgrac'd, 
While That bright Magazine shall last 
Your crowded Altars still shall smoke ; 
And Man your Friendly Aid invoke : 
Jove shall again revere your Pow'r, 
And rise a Sw^an, or fall a Show^'r. 



CUPID Mistaken, 



AS after Noon, one Summer's Day, 
£\_ Venus stood bathing in a River ; 
Cupid a-shooting went that Way, 

New strung his Bow, wtv^ fill'd his Quiver. 

II. 

With Skill He chose his sharpest Dart : 
With all his Might his Bow He drew : 

Swift to His beauteous Parent's Heart 
I'he too well-guided Arrow flew. 

HI. 

I faint ! I die ! the Goddess cry'd : 

cruel, could'st Thou find none other, 
To wreck thy Spleen on ? Parricide ! 

Like Nero, Thou hast slain thy Mother. 

IV. 

Poor Cupid sobbing scarce could speak ; 
Indeed, Manmia, I did not know Ye : 
Alas ! how easie my Mistake ? 

1 took You for your Likeness, Cloe. 



62 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



VENUS Mistaken, 



W 



I. 

HEN Cloe's P16lure was to Venus shown 



Surpriz'd, the Goddess took it for Her own. 
And what, said She, does this bold Painter mean ? 
When was I Bathing thus, and Naked seen ? 

11. 

Pleas'd Cupid heard, and check'd His Mother's Pride 
And who's blind now, Mamma ? the Urchin cry'd. 
'Tis Cloe's Eye, and Cheek, and Lip, and Breast : 
Friend Howard's Genius fancy'd all the rest. 



A SONG. 

IF Wine and Musick have the Pow'r, 
To ease the Sickness of the Soul ; 
Let Phoebus ev'ry String explore ; 
And Bacchus fill the sprightly Bowl. 
Let Them their friendly Aid imploy. 
To make my Cloe's Absence light ; 
And seek for Pleasure, to destroy 
The Sorrows of this live-long Night. 

But She to Morrow will return : 
Venus, be Thou to Morrow great ; 
Thy Myrtles strow. Thy Odours burn ; 
And meet Thy Fav'rite Nymph in State. 
Kind Goddess, to no other Pow'rs 
Let Us to Morrow's Blessings own : 
Thy darling Loves shall guide the Hours ; 
And all the Day be Thine alone. 

63 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



The DOVE. 

Tant^ne animis coelestibus Ira F Virg. 

I. 

IN Virgil's Sacred Verse we find, 
That Passion can depress or raise 
The Heav'nly, as the Human Mind : 
Who dare deny what Virgil says ? 

II. 
But if They shou'd ; what our Great Master 

Has thus laid down, my Tale shall prove. 
Fair Venus wept the sad Disaster 

Of having lost her Fav'rite Dove. 

III. 
In Complaisance poor Cupid mourn'd ; 

His Grief reliev'd his Mother's Pain ; 
He vow'd he'd leave no Stone unturn'd. 

But She shou'd have her Dove again. 

IV. 
Tho' None, said He, shall yet be nam'd, 

I know the Felon well enough : 
But be She not. Mamma, condemn'd 

Without a fair and legal Proof. 

V. 

With that, his longest Dart he took, 
As Constable wou'd take his Staff: 

That Gods desire like Men to look, 

Wou'd make ev'n Heraclitus laugh. 

VI. 

Loves Subaltern, a Duteous Band, 

Like Watchmen round their Chief appear : 
Each had his Lanthorn in his Hand : 

And Venus mask'd brought up the Rear. 



64 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

VII. 

Accouter'd thus, their eager Step 

To Cloe's Lodging They directed : 
(At once I write, alas ! and weep, 

That Cloe is of Theft suspefted.) 

VIII. 
Late They set out, had far to go : 

St. Dunstan's, as They pass'd, struck One. 
Cloe, for Reasons good, You know, 

Lives at the sober End o'th' Town. 

IX. 

With one great Peal They rap the Door, 

Like Footmen on a Visi ting-Day. 
Folks at Her House at such an Hour ! 

Lord ! what will all the Neighbours say ? 

X. 

The Door is open'd : up They run : 

Nor Prayers, nor Threats divert their Speed : 

Thieves, Thieves ! cries Susan ; We're undone ; 
They'll kill my Mistress in her Bed. 

XL 

In Bed indeed the Nymph had been 

Three Hours : for all Historians say. 

She commonly went up at Ten, 

Unless Picquet was in the Way. 

XII. 

She wak'd, be sure, with strange Surprize. 

O Cupid, is this Right or Law, 
Thus to disturb the brightest Eyes, 

That ever slept, or ever saw ? 

XIII. 
Have You observ'd a sitting Hare, 

List'ning, and fearful of the Storm 
Of Horns and Hounds, clap back her Ear, 

Afraid to keep, or leave her Form ? 

P. E 65 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XIV. 

Or have You mark'd a Partridge quake, 
Viewing the tow'ring Faulcon nigh ? 

She cuddles low behind the Brake : 

Nor wou'd she stay : nor dares she fly. 

XV. 
Then have You seen the Beauteous Maid ; 

When gazing on her Midnight Foes, 
She turn'd each Way her frighted Head, 

Xhen sunk it deap beneath the Cloaths. 

XVI. 

Venus this while was in the Chamber 

Incognito : for Susan said, 
It smelt so strong of Myrrh and Amber — 

And Susan is no lying Maid. 

XVII. 

But since We have no present Need 

Of Venus for an Episode ; 
With Cupid let us e'en proceed ; 

And thus to Cloe spoke the God : 

XVIII. 
Hold up your Head : hold up your Hand : 

Wou'd it were not my Lot to show ye 
This cruel JJ^rlt^ wherein you stand 

Indidted by the Name of Cloe : 

XIX. 
For that by secret Malice stirr'd. 

Or by an emulous Pride invited. 
You have purloin'd the fav'rite Bird, 

In which my Mother most delighted. 

XX. 

Her blushing Face the lovely Maid 

Rais'd just above the milk-white Sheet. 

A Rose-Tree in a Lilly Bed, 

Nor glows so red, nor breathes so sweet. 



66 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XXL 

Are You not He whom Virgins fear, 

And Widows court ? Is not your Name 

Cupid ? If so, pray come not near — 
Fair Maiden, I'm the very same. 

XXII. 
Then what have I, good Sir, to say. 

Or do with Her, You call your Mother ? 
If I shou'd meet Her in my Way, 

We hardly court'sy to each other. 

XXIII. 
Diana Chaste, and Hebe Sweet, 

Witness that what I speak is true : 
I wou'd not give my Paroquet 

For all the Doves that ever flew. 

XXIV. 
Yet, to compose this Midnight Noise, 

Go freely search where-e'er you please : 
(The Rage that rais'd, adorn'd Her Voice) 

Upon yon' Toilet lie my Keys. 

XXV. 

Her Keys He takes ; her Doors unlocks ; 

Thro' Wardrobe, and thro' Closet bounces ; 
Peeps into ev'ry Chest and Box ; 

Turns all her Furbeloes and Flounces. 

XXVI. 
But Dove, depend on't, finds He none ; 

So to the Bed returns again : 
And now the Maiden, bolder grown. 

Begins to treat Him with Disdain. 

XXVII. 
I marvel much, She smiling said, 

Your Poultry cannot yet be found : 
Lies he in yonder Slipper dead. 

Or, may be, in the Tea-pot drown'd ? 

E2 67 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XXVIII. 

No, Traytor, angry Love replies, 

He's hid somewhere about Your Breast ; 

A Place, nor God, nor Man denies. 

For Venus' Dove the proper Nest. 

XXIX. 

Search then, She said, put in your Hand, 

And Cynthia, dear Protectress, guard Me : 

As guilty I, or free may stand, 

Do Thou, or punish, or reward Me. 

XXX. 

But ah ! what Maid to Love can trust ? 

He scorns, and breaks all Legal Power : 
Into her Breast his Hand He thrust ; 

And in a Moment forc'd it lower. 

XXXI. 

O, whither do those Fingers rove, 

Cries Cloe, treacherous Urchin, whither .'' 

O Venus ! I shall find thy Dove, 

Says He ; for sure I touch his Feather. 

A LOVER'S ANGER. 

AS Cloe came into the Room t'other Day, 
±\. I peevish began ; Where so long cou'd You stay ? 
In your Life-time You never regarded your Hour : 
You promis'd at Two ; and (pray look Child) 'tis Four. 
A Lady's Watch needs neither Figures nor Wheels : 
'Tis enough, that 'tis loaded with Baubles and Seals. 

A Temper so heedless no Mortal can bear 

Thus far I went on with a resolute Air. 

Lord bless Me ! said She ; let a Body but speak : 

Here's an ugly hard Rose-Bud fall'n into my Neck : 

It has hurt Me, and vext Me to such a Degree 

See here ; for You never believe Me ; pray see. 
On the left Side my Breast what a Mark it has made. 
So saying, her Bosom She careless display'd. 
That Seat of Delight I with Wonder survey'd ; 
And forgot ev'ry Word I design'd to have said. 

68 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



MERCURY and CUPID. 

IN sullen Humour one Day Jove 
Sent Hermes down to Ida's Grove, 
Commanding Cupid to deliver 
His Store of Darts, his total Quiver ; 
That Hermes shou'd the Weapons break, 
Or throw 'em into Lethe'[s] Lake. 

Hermes, You know, must do his Errand 
He found his Man, produc'd his Warrant : 

Cupid, your Darts this very Hour 

There's no contending against Power. 

How sullen Jupiter, just now 
I think I said : and You'll allow. 
That Cupid was as bad as He : 
Hear but the Youngster's Repartee. 

Come Kinsman (said the little God) 
Put off your Wings ; lay by your Rod ; 
Retire with Me to yonder Bower ; 
And rest your self for half an Hour : 
'Tis far indeed from hence to Heav'n : 
And You fly fast : and 'tis but Seven. 
We'll take one cooling Cup of Ne6lar ; 
And drink to this Celestial He6lor 

He break my Darts, or hurt my Pow'r ! 
He, Leda's Swan, and Danae's Show'r ! 
Go, bid him his Wife's Tongue restrain ; 

And mind his Thunder, and his Rain. 

My Darts ? O certainly I'll give 'em : 
From Cloe's Eyes He shall receive 'em. 
There's One, the Best in all my Qinver, 
Twang ! thro' his very Heart and Liver. 
He then shall Pine, and Sigh, and Rave : 
Good Lord ! what Bustle shall We have ! 
Neptune must straight be sent to Sea ; 
And Flora summon'd twice a-day : 



69 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

One must find Shells, and t'other Flow'rs, 
For cooling Grotts, and fragrant Bow'rs, 
That Cloe may be serv'd in State : 
The Hours must at Her Toilet wait : 
Whilst all the reasoning Fools below, 
Wonder their Watches go too slow. 
Lyes must fly South, and EuRUS East, 
For Jewels for Her Hair and Breast : 
No Matter tho' their cruel Haste 
Sink Cities, and lay Forrests waste. 
No Matter tho' This Fleet be lost ; 
Or That lie wind-bound on the Coast. 
What whis'pring in my Mother's Ear ! 
What Care, that Juno shou'd not hear ! 
What Work among You Scholar Gods ! 
Phcebus must write Him am'rous Odes : 
And Thou, poor Cousin, must compose 
His Letters in submissive Prose : 
Whilst haughty Cloe, to sustain 
The Honour of My mystic Reign, 
Shall all his Gifts and Vows disdain ; 
And laugh at your Old Bully's Pain. 

Dear Couz, said Hermes in a Fright, 
For Heav'n sake keep Your Darts : Good Night. 



On BEAUTY. 



A RIDDLE. 

RESOLVE Me, Cloe, what is This: 
Or forfeit me One precious Kiss. 
'Tis the first Off^-spring of the Graces ; 
Bears difi^'rent Forms in diff''rent Places ; 
Acknowlcdg'd fine, where-e'er beheld ; 
Yet fancy'd finer, when conceal'd. 
'Twas Flora's Wealth, and Circe's Charm \ 
Pandora's Box of Good and Harm : 



70 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

'Twas Mars's Wish, Endymion's Dream ; 
Apelles' Draught, and Ovid's Theme. 
This guided Theseus thro' the Maze ; 
And sent Him home with Life and Praise. 
But This undid the Phrygian Boy ; 
And blew the Flames that ruin'd Troy. 
This shew'd great Kindness to old Greece, 
And help'd rich Jason to the Fleece. 
This thro' the East just Vengeance hurl'd. 
And lost poor Anthony the World. 
Injur'd, tho' Lucrece found her Doom ; 
This banish'd Tyranny from Rome. 
Appeas'd, tho' Lais gain'd her Hire ; 
This set Persepolis on Fire. 
For This Alcides learn'd to Spin ; 
His Club laid down, and Lion's Skin. 
For This Apollo deign'd to keep, 
With servile Care, a Mortal's Sheep. 
For This the Father of the Gods, 
Content to leave His high Abodes, 
In borrow'd Figures loosely ran, 
Europa's Bull, and Leda's Swan. 
For This He reassumes the Nod ; 
(While Semele commands the God) 
Launces the Bolt, and shakes the Poles ; 
Tho' MoMus laughs, and Juno scolds. 

Here list'ning Cloe smil'd, and said ; 
Your Riddle is not hard to read : 

I Guess it Fair one, if You do ; 

Need I, alas ! the Theme pursue ? 

For This, Thou see'st, for This I leave, 

Whate'er the World thinks Wise or Grave, 

Ambition, Business, Friendship, News, 

My useful Books, and serious Muse. 

For This I willingly decline 

The Mirth of Feasts, and Joys of Wine ; 

And chuse to sit and talk with Thee, 

(As Thy great Orders may decree) 

Of Cocks and Bulls, of Flutes and Fiddles, 

Of Idle Tales, and foolish Riddles. 



71 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



The Question, to Lisetta. 

WHAT Nymph shou'd I admire, or trust, 
But Cloe Beauteous, Cloe Just ? 
What Nymph should I desire to see, 
But Her who leaves the Plain for Me ? 
To Whom shou'd I compose the Lay, 
But Her who listens, when I play ? 
To Whom in Song repeat my Cares, 
But Her who in my Sorrow shares ? 
For Whom should I the Garland make. 
But Her who joys the Gift to take, 
And boasts She wears it for My Sake ? 
In Love am I not fully blest ? 
Lisetta, pr'ythee tell the rest. 



LisettaV Reply. 

SURE Cloe Just, and Cloe Fair 
Deserves to be Your only Care : 
But when You and She to Day 
Far into the Wood did stray. 
And I happen'd to pass by ; 
Which way did You cast your Eye ? 
But when your Cares to Her You sing. 
Yet dare not tell Her whence they spring ; 
Does it not more afflict your Heart, 
That in those Cares She bears a Part ? 
When You the Flow'rs for Cloe twine, "1 

Why do You to Her Garland join \ 

The meanest Bud that falls from Mine ? J 

Simplest of Swains ! the World may see, 
Whom Cloe loves, and Who loves Me. 



72 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



The Garland. 
I. 

THE Pride of ev'ry Grove I chose, 
The Violet sweet, and Lilly fair, 
The dappl'd Pink, and blushing Rose, 
To deck my charming Cloe's Hair. 

11. 

At Morn the Nymph vouchsaft to place 
Upon her Brow the various Wreath ; 

The Flow'rs less blooming than Her Face, 
The Scent less fragrant than Her Breath. 

HI. 

The Flow'rs She wore along the Day : 
And ev'ry Nymph and Shepherd said. 

That in her Hair they lookt more gay. 
Than glowing in their Native Bed. 

IV. 

Undrest at Evening, when She found 
Their Odours lost, their Colours past ; 

She chang'd her Look, and on the Ground 
Her Garland and her Eye She cast. 

V. 

That Eye dropt Sense distinft and clear, 
As any Muse's Tongue cou'd speak ; 

When from it's Lid a pearly Tear 

Ran trickling down her beauteous Cheek. 

VL 

Dissembling, what I knew too well. 
My Love, my Life, said I, explain 

This Change of Humour : pr'ythee tell : 
That falling Tear — What does it mean r 



73 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

VII. 

She sigh'd ; She smil'd : and to the Flow'rs 
Pointing, the Lovely Morahst said : 

See ! Friend, in some few fleeting Hours, 
See yonder, what a Change is made. 

VIII. 

Ah Me ! the blooming Pride of May, 
And That of Beauty are but One : 

At Morn Both flourish bright and gay, 
Both fade at Evening, pale, and gone. 

IX. 

At Dawn poor Stella danc'd and sung ; 

The am'rous Youth around Her bow'd : 
At Night her fatal Knell was rung ; 

I saw, and kiss'd Her in her Shrowd. 

X. 

Such as She is, who dy'd to Day ; 

Such I, alas ! may be to Morrow : 
Go, Damon, bid Thy Muse display 

The Justice of thy Cloe's Sorrow. 



T'^e Lady w/jo offers her Lookjng- 
Glass to Venus. 



VENUS, take my Votive Glass : 
Since I am not what I was ; 
What from this Day I shall be, 
Venus, let Me never see. 



74 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



CLOE JEALOUS. 

I. 

FORBEAR to ask Me, why I weep; 
Vext Cloe to her Shepherd said : 
'Tis for my Two poor stragling Sheep 
Perhaps, or for my Squirrel dead. 

11. 

For mind I what You late have writ ? 

Your subtle Questions, and Replies ; 
Emblems, to teach a Female Wit 

The Ways, where changing Cupid flies. 

III. 

Your Riddle, purpos'd to rehearse 

The general Pow'r that Beauty has : 

But why did no peculiar Verse 

Describe one Charm of Cloe's Face ? 

IV. 

The Glass, which was at Venus' Shrine, 
With such Mysterious Sorrow laid : 

The Garland (and You call it Mine) 

Which show'd how Youth and Beauty fade. 

V. 

Ten thousand Trifles light as These 
Nor can my Rage, nor Anger move : 

She shou'd be humble, who wou'd please : 
And She must suffer, who can love. 

VI. 

When in My Glass I chanc'd to look ; 

Of Venus what did I implore ? 
, That ev'ry Grace which thence I took, 
Shou'd know to charm my Damon more. 



75 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
VII. 

Reading Thy Verse ; who heeds, said I, 
If here or there his Glances flew ? 

O free for ever be His Eye, 

Whose Heart to Me is always true. 

vni. 

My Bloom indeed, my little Flow'r 
Of Beauty quickly lost it's Pride : 

For sever'd from it's Native Bow'r, 
It on Thy glowing Bosom dy'd. 

IX. 
Yet car'd I not, what might presage 

Or withering Wreath, or fleeting Youth 
Love I esteem'd more strong than Age, 

And Time less permanent than Truth. 

X. 

Why then I weep, forbear to know : 
Fall uncontroll'd my Tears, and free : 

O Damon, 'tis the only Woe, 
I ever yet conceal'd from Thee. 

[XL] 
The secret Wound with which I bleed 

Shall lie wrapt up, ev'n in my Herse : 
But on my Tomb-stone Thou shalt read 

My Answer to Thy dubious Verse. 



Answer to CLOE Jealous, 
in the same Stile. 

The AUTHOR sick. 
I. 

ES, fairest Proof of Beauty's Pow'r, 



Y 



Dear Idol of My panting Heart, 
Nature points This my fatal Hour : 
And I have liv'd ; and We must part. 



76 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

II. 

While now I take my last Adieu, 

Heave Thou no Sigh, nor shed a Tear ; 

Lest yet my half-clos'd Eye may view 
On Earth an Objeft worth it's Care. 

III. 
From Jealousy's tormenting Strife 

For ever be Thy Bosom free'd : 
That nothing may disturb Thy Life, 

Content I hasten to the Dead. 

IV. 

Yet when some better-fated Youth 

Shall with his am'rous Parly move Thee ; 

Refle6l One Moment on His Truth, 

Who dying Thus, persists to love Thee. 

A Better Answer. 
I. 

Dear Cloe, how Wubber'd is that pretty Face ? 
Thy Cheek all on Fire, and Thy Hair all uncurl'd : 
Pr'ythee quit this Caprice ; and (as old Falstaf says) 
Let Us e'en talk a little like Folks of This World. 

II. 
How can'st Thou presume, Thou hast leave to destroy 

The Beauties, which Venus but lent to Thy keeping? 
Those Looks were design'd to inspire Love and Joy : 

More ord'nary Eyes may serve People for weeping. 

III. 
To be vext at a Trifle or two that I writ. 

Your Judgment at once, and my Passion You wrong : 
You take that for Fadt, which will scarce be found Wit : 

Od's Life ! must One swear to the Truth of a Song ? 

IV. 

What I speak, my fair Cloe, and what I write, shews 
The Diflr'rence there is betwixt Nature and Art : 

I court others in Verse ; but I love Thee in Prose : 
And They have my Whimsies ; but Thou hast my Heart. 

77 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
V. 

The God of us Verse-men (You know Child) the Sun, 

How after his Journeys He sets up his Rest : 
If at Morning o'er Earth 'tis his Fancy to run ; 

At Night he reclines on his Thetis's Breast. 

VI. 
So when I am weary'd with wand'ring all Day ; 

To Thee my Delight in the Evening I come : 
No Matter what Beauties I saw in my Way : 

They were but my Visits ; but Thou art my Home. 

VII. 
Then finish, Dear Cloe, this Pastoral War ; 

And let us like Horace and Lydia agree : 
For Thou art a Girl as much brighter than Her, 

As He was a Poet sublimer than Me. 

PALLAS and VENUS, 

AN 
EPIGRAM. 

THE Trojan Swain had judg'd the great Dispute ; 
And Beauty's Pow'r obtain'd the Golden Fruit ; 
When Venus, loose in all Her naked Charms, 
Met Jove's great Daughter clad in shining Arms. 
The wanton Goddess view'd the Warlike Maid 
From Head to Foot, and Tauntingly She said : 

Yield, Sister ; Rival, yield ; Naked, You see, 
I vanquish : Guess how Potent I should be ; 
If to the Field I came in Armour drest ; 
Dreadful, like Thine, my Shield, and terrible my Crest. 

The Warrior Goddess with Disdain reply'd ; 
Thy Folly, Child, is equal to thy Pride : 
Let a brave Enemy for once advise. 
And Venus (if 'tis possible) be Wise. 
Thou to be strong must put off every Dress : 
Thy only Armour is thy Nakedness : 
And more than once, (or Thou art much bely'd) 
By Mars himself That Armour has been try'd. 

78 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

TO A 

Young Gentleman in Love. 

A 

TALE. 



FROM publick Noise and faftious Strife, 
From all the busie Ills of Life, 
Take me. My Celia, to Thy Breast ; 
And lull my wearied Soul to Rest : 
For ever, in this humble Cell, 
Let Thee and I, my Fair One, dwell ; 

None enter else, but Love and He 

Shall bar the Door, and keep the Key. 

To painted Roofs, and shining Spires 
(Uneasie Seats of high Desires) 
Let the unthinking Many croud, 
That dare be Covetous and Proud : 
In golden Bondage let Them wait, 
And barter Happiness for State : 
But Oh ! My Celia, when Thy Swain 
Desires to see a Court again ; 
May Heav'n around This destin'd Head 
The choicest of it's Curses shed : 
To sum up all the Rage of Fate, 
In the Two Things I dread and hate ; 
May'st Thou be False, and I be Great. 

Thus, on his Celia's panting Breast, 
Fond Celadon his Soul exprest ; 
While with Delight the lovely Maid 
Receiv'd the Vows, She thus repaid : 



79 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Hope of my Age, Joy of my Youth, 
Blest Miracle of Love and Truth ! 
All that cou'd e'er be counted Mine, 
My Love and Life long since are Thine 
A real Joy I never knew ; 
'Till I believ'd Thy Passion true : 
A real Grief I ne'er can find ; 
'Till Thou prov'st Perjur'd or Unkind. 
Contempt, and Poverty, and Care, 
All we abhor, and all we fear, 
Blest with Thy Presence, I can bear. 
Thro' Waters, and thro' Flames I'll go, 
Suff'rer and Solace of Thy Woe : 
Trace Me some yet unheard-of Way, 
That I Thy Ardour may repay ; 
And make My constant Passion known, 
By more than Woman yet has done. 

Had I a Wish that did not bear 
The Stamp and Image of my Dear ; 
I'd pierce my Heart thro' ev'ry Vein, 
And Die to let it out again. 
No : Venus shall my Witness be, 
(If Venus ever lov'd like Me) 
That for one Hour I wou'd not quit 
My Shepherd's Arms, and this Retreat, 
To be the Persian Monarch's Bride, 
Part'ner of all his Pow'r and Pride ; 
Or Rule in Regal State above. 
Mother of Gods, and Wife of Jove. 

O happy these of Human Race ! 
But soon, alas ! our Pleasures pass. 
He thank'd her on his bended Knee ; 
Then drank a Quart of Milk and Tea ; 
And leaving her ador'd Embrace, 
Hasten'd to Court, to beg a Place. 
While She, his Absence to bemoan, 
The very Moment He was gone, 
Call'd Thvrsis from beneath the Bed ; 
Where all this time He had been hid. 



80 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



MORAL. 

WHILE Men have these Ambitious Fancies 
And wanton Wenches read Romances ; 

Our Sex will What ? Out with it. Lye ; 

And Their's in equal Strains reply. 

The Moral of the Tale I sing 

(A Posy for a Wedding Ring) 

In this short Verse will be confin'd : 

Love is a Jest ; and Vows are Wind. 



AN 
ENGLISH PADLOCK. 

MISS Danae, when Fair and Young 
(As Horace has divinely sung) 
Could not be kept from Jove's Embrace 
By Doors of Steel, and Walls of Brass. 
The Reason of the Thing is clear 5 
Would Jove the naked Truth aver : 
Cupid was with Him of the Party ; 
And show'd himself sincere and hearty : 
For, give That Whipster but his Errand j 
He takes my Lord Chief Justice' Warrant : 
Dauntless as Death away He walks ; 
Breaks the Doors open ; snaps the Locks ; 
Searches the Parlour, Chamber, Study ; 
Nor stops, 'till He has Culprit's Body. 

Since This has been Authentick Truth, 
By Age deliver'd down to Youth ; 
Tell us, mistaken Husband, tell us, 
Why so Mysterious, why so Jealous ? 
Does the Restraint, the Bolt, the Bar 
Make Us less Curious, Her less Fair ? 

P. F 81 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The Spy, which does this Treasure keep, 
Does She ne'er say her Pray'rs, nor sleep ? 
Does She to no Excess incline ? 
Does She fly Musick, Mirth, and Wine? 
Or have not Gold and Flatt'ry Pow'r, 
To purchase One unguarded Hour ? 

Your Care does further yet extend : 
That Spy is guarded by your Friend. 



But has This Friend nor Eye, nor Heart ? 
May He not feel the cruel Dart, 
Which, soon or late, all Mortals feel ? 
May He not, with too tender Zeal, 
Give the Fair Pris'ner Cause to see. 
How much He wishes, She were free ? 
May He not craftily infer 
The Rules of Friendship too severe. 
Which chain Him to a hated Trust ; 
Which make Him Wretched, to be Just ? 
And may not She, this Darling She, 

Youthful and healthy, Flesh and Blood, 
Easie with Him, ill-us'd by Thee, 

Allow this Logic to be good ? 

Sir, Will your Questions never end ? 
I trust to neither Spy nor Friend. 
In short, I keep Her from the Sight 

Of ev'ry Human Face. She'll write. 

From Pen and Paper She's debarr'd. 

Has She a Bodkin and a Card .'' 

She'll prick her Mind. She will. You say : 

But how shall She That Mind convey ? 
I keep Her in one Room : I lock it : 
The Key (look here) is in this Pocket. 
The Key-hole, is That left ? iVlost certain. 
She'll thrust her Letter thro' Sir Martin. 

Dear angry Friend, what must be done ? 

Is there no Way .? There is but One, 

Send Her abroad ; and let Her see, 
That all this mingled Mass, which She 



82 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Being forbidden longs to know, 

Is a dull Farce, an empty Show, 

Powder, and Pocket-Glass, and Beau ; 

A Staple of Romance and Lies, 

False Tears, and real Perjuries : 

Where Sighs and Looks are bought and sold ; 

And Love is made but to be told : 

Where the fat Bawd, and lavish Heir 

The Spoils of ruin'd Beauty share : 

And Youth seduc'd from Friends and Fame, 

Must give up Age to Want and Shame. 

Let Her behold the Frantick Scene, 

The Women wretched, false the Men : 

And when, these certain Ills to shun, 

She would to Thy Embraces run ; 

Receive Her with extended Arms : 

Seem more delighted with, her Charms : 

Wait on Her to the Park and Play : 

Put on good Humour ; make Her gay : 

Be to her Virtues very kind : 

Be to her Faults a little blind : 

Let all her Ways be unconfin'd : 

And clap your Padlock on her Mind. 



HANS CARVEL. 

HANS Carvel, Impotent and Old, 
Married a Lass of London Mould : 
Handsome ? enough ; extreamly Gay : 
Lov'd Musick, Company, and Play : 
High Flights She had, and Wit at Will : 
And so her Tongue lay seldom still : 
For in all Visits who but She, 
To Argue, or to Repartee ? 

She made it plain, that Human Passion 
Was order'd by Predestination ; 
That, if weak Women went astray. 
Their Stars were more in Fault than They : 

F2 83 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Whole Tragedies She had by Heart ; 

Enter'd into Roxana's Part : 

To Triumph in her Rival's Blood, 

The Aftion certainly was good. 

How like a Vine young Ammon curl'd ! 

Oh that dear Conqu'ror of the World ! 

She pity'd Betterton in Age, 

That ridicul'd the God-like Rage. 

She, first of all the Town, was told, 
Where newest India Things were sold : 
So in a Morning, without Bodice, 
Slipt sometimes out to Mrs. Thody's; 
To cheapen Tea, to buy a Screen : 
What else cou'd so much Virtue mean ? 
For to prevent the least Reproach, 
Betty went with Her in the Coach. 

But when no very great Affair 
Excited her peculiar Care ; 
She without fail was wak'd at Ten ; 
Drank Chocolate, then slept again : 
At Twelve She rose : with much ado 
Her Cloaths were huddl'd on by Two : 
Then ; Does my Lady Dine at home ? 

Yes sure ; but is the Colonel come ? 

Next, how to spend the Afternoon, 
And not come Home again too soon ; 
The Change, the City, or the Play, 
As each was proper for the Day ; 
A Turn in Summer to Hyde-Park, 
When it grew tolerably Dark. 

Wife's Pleasure causes Husband's Pain : 
Strange Fancies come in Hans's Brain : 
He thought of what He did not name ; 
And wou'd reform ; but durst not blame. 
At first He therefore Preach'd his Wife 
The Comforts of a Pious Life : 
Told Her, how Transient Beauty was ; 
That All must die, and Flesh was Grass 



84 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

He bought Her Sermons, Psalms, and Graces j 

And doubled down the useful Places. 

But still the Weight of worldly Care 

Allow'd Her little time for Pray'r : 

And Cleopatra was read o'er, 

While Scot, and Wake, and Twenty more, 

That teach one to deny one's self. 

Stood unmolested on the Shelf 

An untouch'd Bible grac'd her Toilet : 

No fear that Thumb of Her's should spoil it. 

In short, the Trade was still the same : 

The Dame went out : the Colonel came. 

What's to be done ? poor Carvel cry'd : 
Another Batt'ry must be try'd : 
What if to Spells I had Recourse ? 
'Tis but to hinder something Worse. 
The End must justifie the Means : 
He only Sins who 111 intends : 
Since therefore 'tis to Combat Evil ; 
'Tis lawful to employ the Devil. 

Forthwith the Devil did appear 
(For name Him and He's always near) 
Not in the Shape in which He plies 
At Miss's Elbow when She lies ; 
Or stands before the Nurs'ry Doors, 
To take the naughty Boy that roars : 
But without Sawcer Eye or Claw, 
Like a grave Barrister at Law. 

Hans Carvel, lay aside your Grief, 
The Devil says : I bring Relief. 
Relief, says Hans : pray let me crave 

Your Name, Sir. Satan. Sir, your Slave : 

I did not look upon your Feet : 

You'll pardon Me : Ay, now I see't : 

And pray, Sir, when came You from Hell ? 
Our Friends there, did You leave Them well ? 
All well : but pr'ythee, honest Hans, 
(Says Satan) leave your Complaisance : 

85 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The Truth is this : I cannot stay 

Flaring in Sun-shine all the Day : 

For, entre Nous, We Hellish Sprites, 

Love more the Fresco of the Nights j 

And oft'ner our Receipts convey 

In Dreams, than any other Way. 

I tell You therefore as a Friend, 

E'er Morning davv^ns, your Fears shall end : 

Go then this Ev'ning, Master Carvel, 

Lay down your Fowls, and broach your Barrel ; 

Let Friends and Wine dissolve your Care ; 

Whilst I the great Receipt prepare : 

To Night I'll bring it, by my Faith ; 

Believe for once what Satan saith. 

Away went Hans : glad ? not a little ; 
Obey'd the Devil to a Tittle ; 
Invited Friends some half a Dozen, 
The Colonel, and my Lady's Cousin. 
The Meat was serv'd j the Bowls were crown'd ; 
Catches were sung ; and Healths went round : 
Barbadoes Waters for the Close ; 
'Till Hans had fairly got his Dose : 
The Colonel toasted to the best : 
The Dame mov'd off, to be undrest : 
The Chimes went Twelve : the Guests withdrew 
But when, or how, Hans hardly knew. 
Some Modern Anecdotes aver. 
He nodded in his Elbow Chair ; 
From thence was carry 'd off to Bed : 
John held his Heels, and Nan his head. 
My Lady was disturb'd : new Sorrow ! 
Which Hans must answer for to Morrow. 

In Bed then view this happy Pair; 
And think how Hymen Triumph'd there. 
Hans, fast asleep, as soon as laid ; 
The Duty of the Night unpaid : 
The waking Dame, with Thouglits opprest. 
That made Her Hate both Him and Rest : 



86 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

By such a Husband, such a Wife ! 

'Twas Acme's and Septimius' Life. 

The Lady sigh'd : the Lover snor'd : 

The pun6lual Devil kept his Word : 

Appear'd to honest Hans again ; 

But not at all by Madam seen : 

And giving Him a Magick Ring, 

Fit for the Finger of a King ; 

Dear Hans, said He, this Jew^el take. 

And wear it long for Satan's Sake : 

'Twill do your Business to a Hair : 

For long as You this Ring shall wear. 

As sure as I look over Lincoln, 

That ne'er shall happen which You think on. 

Hans took the Ring with Joy extream ; 
(All this was only in a Dream) 
And thrusting it beyond his Joint, 

'Tis done, He cry'd : I've gain'd my Point. 

What Point, said She, You ugly Beast ? 
You neither give Me Joy nor Rest : 

'Tis done. What's done. You drunken Bear ? 

You've thrust your Finger G d knows where. 



A Dutch Proverb. 

FIRE, Water, Woman, are Man's Ruin ; 
Says wise Professor Vander Bruin. 
By Flames a House I hir'd was lost 
Last Year : and I must pay the Cost. 
This Spring the Rains o'erflow'd my Ground 
And my best Flanders Mare was drown'd. 
A Slave I am to Clara's Eyes : 
The Gipsey knows her Pow'r, and flies. 
Fire, Water, Woman, are My Ruin : 
And great Thy Wisdom, Vander Bruin. 



87 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

PAULO PURGANTI 

AND 
His WIFE : 

An Honest, but a Simple Pair. 

Est enim quiddam^ idque intelligitur in o?nni Virtute, 
quod Deceat : quod Cogitatione magis a Virtute potest 
quam Re separari. Cic. de Officiis. Lib. i. 

BEYOND the fix'd and settl'd Rules 
Of Vice and Virtue in tiie Schools, 
Beyond the Letter of the Law, 
Which keeps our Men and Maids in Awe, 
The better Sort should set before 'em 
A Grace, a Manner, a Decorum ; 
Something, that gives their A(5ts a Light ; 
Makes 'em not only just, but bright ; 
And sets 'em in that open Fame, 
Which witty Malice cannot blame. 

For 'tis in Life, as 'tis in Painting : 
Much may be Right, yet much be Wanting : 
From Lines drawn true, our Eye may trace 
A Foot, a Knee, a Hand, a Face : 
May justly own the Picture wrought 
Exaft to Rule, exempt from Fault : 
Yet if the Colouring be not there, 
The Titian Stroke, the Guido Air ; 
To nicest Judgment show the Piece ; 
At best 'twill only not displease : 
It would not gain on Jersey's Eye : 
Bradford would frown, and set it by. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Thus in the Picture of our Mind 
The A6lion may be well design'd ; 
Guided by Law, and bound by Duty ; 
Yet want this Je ne sfay quay of Beauty : 
And tho' it's Error may be such, \ 

As Knags and Burgess cannot hit ; I 

It yet may feel the nicer Touch j 

Of Wicherley's or Congreve's Wit. .' 

What is this Talk ? replies a Friend : 
And where will this dry Moral end ? 
The Truth of what You here lay down 

By some Example should be shown. 

With all my Heart, for once ; read on. 

An Honest, but a Simple Pair ] 

(And Twenty other I forbear) \ 

May serve to make this Thesis clear. ) 

A Doftor of great Skill and Fame, 
Paulo Purganti was his Name, 
Had a good, comely, virtuous Wife : 
No Woman led a better Life : 
She to Intrigues was ev'n hard-hearted : 
She chuckl'd when a Bawd was carted : 
And thought the Nation ne'er wou'd thrive, 
'Till all the Whores were burnt alive. 

On marry'd Men, that dare be bad. 
She thought no Mercy should be had ; 
They should be hang'd, or starv'd, or flead. 

Or serv'd like Romish Priests in Swede. 

In short, all Lewdness She defy'd : 
And stiff was her Parochial Pride. 

Yet in an honest Way, the Dame 
Was a great Lover of That same ; 
And could from Scripture take her Cue, 
That Husbands should give Wives their Due. 

Her Prudence did so justly steer 
Between the Gay and the Severe, 

89 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

That if in some Regards She chose 
To curb poor Paulo in too close ; 
In others She relax'd again, 
And govern'd with a looser Rein. 

Thus tho' She strictly did confine 
The Dodlor from Excess of Wine ; 
With Oysters, Eggs, and Vermicelli 
She let Him almost burst his Belly : 
Thus drying Coffee was deny'd ; 
But Chocolate that Loss supply'd : 
And for Tobacco (who could bear it i*) 
Filthy Concomitant of Claret ! 
(Blest Revolution !) one might see 
Eringo Roots, and Bohe Tea. 

She often set the Dodlor's Band, 
And strok'd his Beard, and squeez'd his Hand 
Kindly complain'd, that after Noon 
He went to pore on Books too soon : 
She held it wholesomer by much. 

To rest a little on the Couch : 

About his Waste in Bed a-nights 

She clung so close for fear of Sprites. 

The Do6lor understood the Call ; 
But had not always wherewithal. 

The Lion's Slcin too short, you know, 
(As Plutarch's Morals finely show) 
Was lengthen'd by the Fox's TdW : 
And Art supplies, where Strength may fail. 

Unwilling then in Arms to meet 
The Enemy, He could not beat ; 
He strove to lengthen the Campaign, 
And save his Forces by Chicane. 
Fabius, the Roman Chief, who thus 
By fair Retreat grew Maximus, 
Shows us, that all that Warrior can do 
With Force inferior, is CunSJando. 



90 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

One Day then, as the Foe drew near, 
With Love, and Joy, and Life, and Dear ; 
Our Don, who knew this Tittle Tattle 
Did, sure as Trumpet, call to Battel ; 
Thought it extreamly a propos^ 
To ward against the coming Blow : 
To ward : but how ? Ay, there's the Question : 
Fierce the Assault, unarm 'd the Bastion. 

The Doctor feign'd a strange Surprise : 
He felt her Pulse : he view'd her Eyes : 
That beat too fast : These rowl'd too quick : 
She was. He said, or would be Sick : 
He judg'd it absolutely good. 
That She should purge and cleanse her Blood. 
Spaw Waters for that end were got : 
If they past easily or not. 
What matters it ? the Lady's Feaver 
Continu'd violent as ever. 

For a Distemper of this Kind, 
(Blackmore and Hans are of my Mind) 
If once it youthful Blood infe6ls, 
And chiefly of the Female Sex ; 
Is scarce remov'd by Pill or Potion ; 
What-e'er might be our Doftor's Notion. 

One luckless Night then, as in Bed 
The Do6lor and the Dame were laid ; 
Again this cruel Feaver came. 
High Pulse, short Breath, and Blood in Flame. 
What Measures shall poor Paulo keep 
With Madam, in this piteous taking ? 
She, like Macbeth, has murder'd Sleep, 
And won't allow Him Rest, tho' waking. 
Sad State of Matters ! when We dare 
Nor ask for Peace, nor offer War : 
Nor LiVY nor Comines have shown, 
What in this Jun£lure may be done. 
Grotius might own, that Paulo's Case is 
Harder, than any which He places 
Amongst his Belli and his Pacis. 



91 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

He strove, alas ! but strove in vain, 
By dint of Logic to maintain, 
That all the Sex was born to grieve, 
Down to her Ladyship from Eve. 
He rang'd his Tropes, and preach'd up Patience ; 
Back'd his Opinion with Qiiotations, 
Divines and Moralists ; and run ye on 
Quite thro' from Seneca to Bunyan. 
As much in vain He bid Her try 
To fold her Arms, to close her Eye ; 
Telling Her, Rest would do Her Good ; 
If any thing in Nature cou'd : 
So held the Greeks quite down from Galen, 
Masters and Princes of the Calling : 
So all our Modern Friends maintain 
(Tho' no great Greeks) in Warwick-Lane. 

Reduce, my Muse, the wand'ring Song : 
A Tale should never be too long. 

The more He talk'd, the more She burn'd, 
And sigh'd, and tost, and groan 'd, and turn'd : 

At last, I wish, said She, my Dear 

(And whisper'd something in his Ear.) 
You wish ! wish on, the Do6lor cries : 
Lord ! when will Womankind be wise .? 
What, in your Waters ? are You mad ? 
Why Poyson is not half so bad. 

I'll do it But I give You Warning : 

You'll die before To-morrow Morning. 

'Tis kind, my Dear, what You advise ; 
The Lady with a Sigh replies : 
But Life, You know, at best is Pain : 
And Death is what We should disdain. 
So do it therefore, and Adieu : 

For I will die for Love of You : 

Let wanton Wives by Death be scar'd : 
But, to my Comfort, I'm prepar'd. 



92 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

THE 
LADLE. 



THE Scepticks think, 'twas long ago, 
Since Gods came down Incognito^ 
To see Who were Their Friends or Foes, 
And how our A6lions fell or rose : 
That since They gave Things their Beginning ; 
And set this Whirligig a Spinning ; 
Supine They in their Heav'n remain, 
Exempt from Passion, and from Pain : 
And frankly leave us Human Elves, 
To cut and shuffle for our selves : 
To stand or walk, to rise or tumble. 
As Matter, and as Motion jumble. 

The Poets now, and Painters hold 
This Thesis both absurd and bold : 
And your good-natur'd Gods, They say. 
Descend some twice or thrice a-day : 
Else all these Things We toil so hard in. 
Would not avail one single Farthing : 
For when the Hero We rehearse. 
To grace His A6lions, and Our Verse ; 
'Tis not by dint of Human Thought, 
That to his Latium He is brought : 
Iris descends by Fate's Commands, 
To guide his Steps thro' Foreign Lands : 
And Amphitrite clears his Way 
From Rocks and Quick-sands in the Sea. 

And if You see Him in a Sketch ; 
(Tho' drawn by Paulo or Carache) 
He shows not half his Force and Strength, 
Strutting in Armour, and at Length : 



93 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

That He may make his proper Figure, 
The Piece must yet be four Yards bigger : 
The Nymphs conduft Him to the Field : 
One holds his Sword, and One his Shield : 
Mars standing by asserts his Quarrel : 
And Fame flies after with a Lawrel. 

These Points, I say, of Speculation 
(As 'twere to save or sink the Nation) 
Men idly learned will dispute, 
Assert, obje(^t, confirm, refute : 
Each mighty angry, mighty right, 
With equal Arms sustains the Fight ; 
'Till now no Umpire can agree 'em : 
So both draw off, and sing Te Deum. 

Is it in Equilibrio, 
If Deities descend or no ? 
Then let th'Affirmative prevail. 
As requisite to form my Tale : 
For by all Parties 'tis confest, 
That those Opinions are the best. 
Which in their Nature most conduce 
To present Ends, and private Use. 

Two Gods came therefore from above, 
One Mercury, the t'other Jove : 
The Humour was (it seems) to know, 
If all tile Favours They bestow. 
Could from our own Perverseness ease Us ; 
And if our Wish injoy'd would please Us. 

Discoursing largely on this Theme, 
O'er Hills and Dales Their Godships came ; 
'Till well nigh tir'd at almost Night, 
They thought it proper to alight. 

Note here, that it as true as odd is, 
That in Disguise a God or Goddess 
Exerts no supernat'ral Powers ; 
But a(Sts on Maxims much like Ours. 



94 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

They spy'd at last a Country Farm, 
Where all was snug, and clean, and warm ; 
For Woods before, and Hills behind 
Secur'd it both from Rain and Wind : 
Large Oxen in the Fields were lowing : 
Good Grain was sow'd : good Fruit was growing : 
Of last Year's Corn in Barns great Store ; 
Fat Turkeys gobbling at the Door : 
And Wealth (in short) with Peace consented, 
That People here should live contented : 
But did They in Effeil do so ? 
Have Patience, Friend ; and Thou shalt know. 

The honest Farmer and his Wife, 
To Years declin'd from Prime of Life, 
Had struggl'd with the Marriage Noose ; 
As almost ev'ry Couple does : 

Sometimes, iVIy Plague ! sometimes. My Darling ! 
Kissing to Day, to Morrow snarling ; 
Jointly submitting to endure 
That Evil, which admits no Cure. 

Our Gods the outward Gate unbarr'd : 
Our Farmer met 'em in the Yard ; 
Thought They were Folks that lost their Way ; 
And ask'd them civily to stay : 
Told 'em, for Supper, or for Bed 
They might go on, and be worse sped. 

So said, so done : the Gods consent : 
All three into the Parlour went : 
They complement : They sit : They chat ; 
Fight o'er the Wars ; reform the State : 
A thousand knotty Points They clear ; 
Till Supper and my Wife appear. 

Jove made his Leg, and kiss'd the Dame : 
Obsequious Hermes did the same. 
Jove kiss'd the Farmer's Wife, You say. 

He did but in an honest Way : 

Oh ! not with half that Warmth and Life, 
With which He kiss'd Amphitryon's Wife, 



95 



96 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Well then, Things handsomly were serv'd : 
My Mistress for the Strangers carv'd. 
How strong the Beer, how good the Meat, 
How loud They laught, how much They eat, 
In Epic sumptuous would appear ; 
Yet shall be pass'd in Silence here : 
For I should grieve to have it said. 
That by a fine Description led, 
I made my Episode too long. 
Or tir'd my Friend, to grace my Song. 



The Grace-Cup serv'd, the Cloth away, 
Jove thought it time to show his Play : 
Landlord and Landlady, He cry'd, 
Folly and Jesting laid aside, 
That Ye thus hospitably live. 
And Strangers with good Chear receive. 
Is mighty grateful to your Betters, 
And makes ev'n Gods themselves your Debtors. 
To give this Thesis plainer Proof, 
You have to Night beneath your Roof 
A Pair of Gods : (nay never wonder) 
This Youth can Fly, and I can Thunder. 
I'm Jupiter, and He Mercurius, 
My Page, my Son indeed, but spurious. 
Form then Three Wishes, You and Madam : 
And sure, as You already had 'em, 
The Things desir'd in half an Hour 
Shall all be here, and in your Pow'r. 



Thank Ye, great Gods, the Woman says : 
Oh ! may your Altars ever blaze. 
A Ladle for our Silver Dish 

Is what I want, is what I Wish. 

A Ladle ! cries the Man, a Ladle ! 
'Odzooks, CoRisCA, You have pray'd ill : 
What should be Great, You turn to Farce : 
I Wish the Ladle in your A . 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

With equal Grief and Shame my Muse 
The Sequel of the Tale pursues : 
The Ladle fell into the Room, 
And stuck in old Corisca's Bum. 
Our Couple weep Two Wishes past, 
And kindly join to form the last, 
To ease the Woman's aukward Pain, 
And get the Ladle out again. 



MORAL. 

THIS Commoner has Worth and Parts, 
Is prais'd for Arms, or lov'd for Arts : 
His Head achs for a Coronet : 
And Who is Bless'd that is not Great .' 

Some Sense, and more Estate, kind Heav'n 
To this well-lotted Peer has giv'n : 
What then ? He must have Rule and Sway : 
And all is wrong, 'till He's in Play. 

The Miser must make up his Plumb, 
And dares not touch the hoarded Sum : 
The sickly Dotard wants a Wife, 
To draw off his last Dregs of Life. 

Against our Peace We arm our Will : 
Amidst our Plenty, Something still 
For Horses, Houses, Pidlures, Planting, 
To Thee, to Me, to Him is wanting. 
That cruel Something unpossess'd 
Corrodes, and levens all the rest. 
That Somethings if We could obtain. 
Would soon create a future Pain : 
And to the Coffin, from the Cradle, 
'Tis all a Wish, and all a Ladle. 

p. G 97 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Writte7t at Paris, 1700. 
/;; the Beginning of 

ROBE\ GEOGRAPHY. 



OF All that William Rules, or Robe 
Describes, Great Rhea, of Thy Globe; 
When or on Post-Horse, or in Chaise, 
With much Expence, and little Ease, 
My destin'd Miles I shall have gone, 
By Thames or Maese, by Po or Rhone, 
And found no Foot of Earth my own ; 
Great Mother, let Me Once be able 
To have a Garden, House, and Stable ; 
That I may Read, and Ride, and Plant, 
Superior to Desire, or Want ; 
And as Health fails, and Years increase, 
Sit down, and think, and die in Peace. 
Oblige Thy Fav'rite Undertakers 
To throw Me in but Twenty Acres : 
This Number sure They may allow ; 
For Pasture Ten, and Ten for Plow : 
'Tis all that I wou'd Wish, or Hope, 
For A4e, and John, and Nell, and Crop. 

Then, as Thou wil't, dispose the rest 
(And let not Fortune spoil the Jest) 
To Those, who at the Market-Rate 
Can barter Honour for Estate. 

Now if Thou grant'st Me my Request, 
To make Thy Vot'ry truly blest. 
Let curst Revenge, and sawcy Pride 
To some bleak Rock far off be ty'd ; 
Nor e'er approach my Rural Seat, 
To tempt Me to be Base, and Great, 



98 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And, Goddess, This kind Office done, 
Charge Venus to command her Son, 
(Where-ever else She lets Him rove) 
To shun my House, and Field, and Grove : 
Peace cannot dwell with Hate or Love. 

Hear, gracious Rhea, what I say : 
And Thy Petitioner shall Pray. 



Written in the Beginning of 

MEZERAY\ 

History of FRANCE, 

I. 

WHATE'ER thy Countrymen have done 
By Law and Wit, by Sword and Gun, 
In Thee is faithfully recited : 
And all the Living World, that view 
Thy Work, give Thee the Praises due. 
At once Instruded and Delighted. 

IL 

Yet for the Fame of all these Deeds, 
What Begger in the Invalides^ 

With Lameness broke, with Blindness smitten. 
Wished ever decently to die. 
To have been either Mezeray, 

Or any Monarch He has written ? 

HL 

It strange, dear Author, yet it true is, 
That down from Pharamond to Louis, 

All covet Life, yet call it Pain : 
All feel the 111, yet shun the Cure : 
Can Sense this Paradox endure ? 

Resolve me, Cambray, or Fontaine. 

G 2 99 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

IV. 

The Man in graver Tragic known 
(Tho' his best Part long since was done) 

Still on the Stage desires to tarry : 
And He who play'd the Harlequin^ 
After the Jest still loads the Scene, 

Unwilling to retire, tho' Weary. 

Written in the 

Nouveaux Interests des Princes 
de /'Europe. 

BLEST be the Princes, who have fought 
For Pompous Names, or wide Dominion ; 
Since by Their Error We are taught, 
That Happiness is but Opinion. 

ADRIANI MORIENTIS 

AD 

Animam Suam. 

ANIMULA, vagula, blandula, 
Hospes, Comesque Corporis, 
Quae nunc abibis in loca, 
Pallidula, rigida, nudula ? 
Nee, ut soles, dabis joca. 

By Monsieur Fontenelle. 

MA petite Ame, ma Mignonne, 
Tu t'en vas done, ma Fille, & Dieu sgaghe oii Tu vas ; 
Tu pars seulette, nue, & tremblotante, Helas ! 
Que deviendra ton humeur foli9honne? 
Qiie deviendront tant de jolis cbats ? 



100 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



IMITArED. 

POOR little, pretty, flutt'ring Thing, 
Must We no longer live together ? 
And dost Thou prune thy trembling Wing, 

To take thy Flight Thou know'st not whither ? 

Thy humorous Vein, thy pleasing Folly 

Lyes all neglected, all forgot : 
And pensive, wav'ring, melancholy, 

Thou dread'st and hop'st Thou know'st not what. 



A Passage in the 

MORIM ENCOMIUM 

of Erasmus Imitated. 

IN awful Pomp, and Melancholy State, 
See settl'd Reason on the Judgment Seat : 
Around Her croud Distrust, and Doubt, and Fear, 
And thoughtful Foresight, and tormenting Care : 
Far from the Throne, the trembling Pleasures stand, 
Chain'd up, or Exil'd by her stern Command. 
Wretched her Subjefts, gloomy sits the Queen ; 
'Till happy Chance reverts the cruel Scene : 
And apish Folly with her wild Resort 
Of Wit and Jest disturbs the solemn Court. 

See the fantastic Minstrelsy advance, 
To breathe the Song, and animate the Dance. 
Blest the Usurper I happy the Surprize ! 
Her Mimic Postures catch our eager Eyes : 
Her Jingling Bells afFeft our captive Ear : 
And in the Sights We see, and Sounds We hear. 
Against our Judgment She our Sense employs : 
The Laws of troubl'd Reason She destroys: 
And in Their Place rejoyces to indite 
Wild Schemes of Mirth, and Plans of loose Delight. 

lOI 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

TO 
Dr. SHERLOCK, 

ON HIS 

PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

Concerning Death. 

FORGIVE the Muse, who in unhallow'd Strains 
The Saint one Moment from his GOD detains : 
For sure, whate'er You do, where-e'er You are, 
'Tis all but one good Work, one constant Pray'r : 
Forgive Her ; and intreat That GOD, to Whom 
Thy favour'd Vows with kind Acceptance come, 
To raise her Notes to that sublime Degree, 
Which suits a Song of Piety and Thee. 

Wond'rous good Man ! whose Labours may repel 
The Force of Sin, may stop the Rage of Hell : 
Thou, like the Baptist, from thy GOD wast sent 
The crying Voice, to bid the World repent. 

Thee Youth shall study ; and no more engage 
Their flatt'ring Wishes for uncertain Age ; 
No more with fruitless Care, and cheated Strife 
Chace fleeting Pleasure thro' this Maze of Life ; 
Finding the wretched All They here can have, 
But present Food, and but a future Grave : 
Each, great as Philip's Vidor Son, shall view 
This abjeft World, and weeping, ask a New. 

Decrepit Age shall read Thee, and confess, 
Thy Labours can asswage, where Med'cines cease : 
Shall bless thy Words, their wounded Souls Relief, 
The Drops that sweeten their last Dregs of Life : 
Shall look to Heav'n, and laugh at all beneath ; 
Own Riches gather'd, Trouble; Fame, a Breath; 
And Life an 111, whose only Cure is Death. 

Thy even Thoughts with so much Plainness flow ; 
Their Sense untutor'd Infancy may know : 
102 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Yet to such height is all That Plainness wrought ; 
Wit may admire, and letter'd Pride be taught : 
Easie in Words thy Style, in Sense sublime : 

On it's blest Steps each Age and Sex may rise : 
'Tis like the Ladder in the Patriarch's Dream, 

It's Foot on Earth, it's Height above the Skies. 
Diffus'd it's Virtue, boundless is it's Pow'r : 
'Tis Publick Health, and Universal Cure : 
Of Heav'nly Manna, 'tis a second Feast, 
A Nation's Food, and All to ev'ry Taste. 

To it's last Height mad Britain's Guilt was rear'd : 
And various Death for various Crimes She fear'd : 
With your kind Work her drooping Hopes revive : 
You bid Her read, repent, adore, and live : 
You wrest the Bolt from Heav'ns avenging Hand ; 
Stop ready Death, and save a sinking Land. 

O ! save Us still ; still bless Us with thy Stay : 
O ! want thy Heav'n, 'till We have learnt the Way : 
Refuse to leave thy destin'd Charge too soon : 
And for the Church's Good, defer thy own. 
O! live; and let thy Works urge our Belief; 
Live to explain thy Do6lrine by thy Life ; 
'Till future Infancy, baptiz'd by Thee, 
Grow ripe in Years, and old in Piety ; 
'Till Christians, yet unborn, be taught to die. 

Then in full Age, and hoary Holiness 
Retire, great Teacher, to thy promis'd Bliss : 
Untouch'd thy Tomb, uninjur'd be thy Dust, 
As thy own Fame among the future Just ; 
'Till in last Sounds the dreadful Trumpet speaks : 
'Till Judgment calls ; and quick'ned Nature wakes : 
'Till thro' the utmost Earth, and deepest Sea 
Our scatter'd Atoms find their destin'd Way, 
In haste to cloath their Kindred Souls again ; 
Perfe6t our State, and build immortal Man : 
Then fearless Thou, who well sustain'dst the Fight, 
To Paths of Joy, and Trafts of endless Light 
Lead up all those who heard Thee, and believ'd : \ 

'Midst thy own Flock, great Shepherd, be receiv'd ; >- 

And glad all Heav'n with Millions Thou hast sav'd. 1 

103 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
CARMEN SECULARE, 

For the Year 1700. 
TO THE 

KING. 

Aspice, venturo latentur ut Omnia S<eclo : 
O mihi tarn longce maneat pars ultima vit^e^ 
Spiritus ^ quantum sat erit tua dicere fa5fa ! 

Virg. Eclog. 4. 

I. 

THY elder Look, Great Janus, cast 
Into the long Records of Ages past : 
Review the Years in fairest A6tion drest 
With noted White, Superior to the rest ; 
i^RA's deriv'd, and Chronicles begun 
From Empires founded, and from Battels won : 
Show all tlie Spoils by valiant Kings achiev'd. 
And groaning Nations by Their Arms reliev'd ; 
The Wounds of Patriots in their Country's Cause, 
And happy Pow'r sustain'd by wholesom Laws : 
In comely Rank call ev'ry Merit forth : 
Imprint on ev'ry Aft it's Standard Worth : 
The glorious Parallels then downward bring 
To Modern Wonders, and to Britain's King: 
With equal Justice and Historic Care 

Their Laws, Their Toils, Their Arms with His compare 
Confess the various Attributes of Fame 
Collected and compleat in William's Name: 

To all the list'ning World relate 
(As Thou dost His Story read) 

That nothing went before so Great, 
And nothing Greater can succeed. 

104 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

II. 

Thy Native Latium was Thy darling Care, 
Prudent in Peace, and terrible in War : 
The boldest Virtues that have govern'd Earth 
From Latium's fruitful Womb derive their Birth. 

Then turn to Her fair-written Page : 
From dawning Childhood to establish'd Age, 

The Glories of Her Empire trace : 1 

Confront the Heroes of Thy Roman Race : I 

And let the justest Palm the Victor's Temples grace. j 

III. 

The Son of Mars reduc'd the trembling Swains, 
And spread His Empire o'er the distant Plains : 
But yet the Sabins violated Charms 
Obscur'd the Glory of His rising Arms. 
NuMA the Rights of stri6l Religion knew ; 
On ev'ry Altar laid the Incense due ; 

Unskill'd to dart the pointed Spear, 
Or lead the forward Youth to noble War. 
Stern Brutus was with too much Horror good, 
Holding his Fasces stain'd with Filial Blood. 
Fabius was Wise, but with Excess of Care ; 
He sav'd his Country ; but prolonged the War : 
While Decius, Paulus, Curius greatly fought ; 

And by Their strift Examples taught. 

How wild Desires should be controll'd ; 
And how much brighter Virtue was, than Gold ; 
They scarce Their swelling Thirst of Fame could hide ; 
And boasted Poverty with too much Pride. 
Excess in Youth made SciPio less rever'd : 
And Cato dying seem'd to own, He fear'd. 
Julius with Honor tam'd Rome's foreign Foes : 
But Patriots fell, e'er the Diftator rose. 
And while with Clemency Augustus reign'd ; 
The Monarch was ador'd ; the City chain'd. 

IV. 
With justest Honour be Their Merits drest : 
But be Their Failings too confest : 

105 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Their Virtue, like their Tyber's Flood 
Rolling, it's Course design'd the Country's Good : 
But oft the Torrent's too impetuous Speed 
From the low Earth tore some polluting Weed : 
And with the Blood of Jove there always ran 
Some viler Part, some Tin6ture of the Man. 

V. 

Few Virtues after These so far prevail, 
But that Their Vices more than turn the Scale : 
Valour grown wild by Pride, and Pow'r by Rage, 
Did the true Charms of Majesty impair: 
Rome by Degrees advancing more in Age, 
Show'd sad Remains of what had once been fair ; 
'Till Heav'n a better Race of Men supplies ; 
And Glory shoots new Beams from Western Skies. 

VI. 

Turn then to Pharamond, and Charlemain, 
And the long Heroes of the Gallic Strain ; 
Experienc'd Chiefs, for hardy Prowess known, 
And bloody Wreaths in vent'rous Battels won. 
From the First William, our great Norman King, 
The bold Plantagenets, and Tudors bring ; 
Illustrious Virtues, who by turns have rose. 
In foreign Fields to check Britannia's Foes ; 
With happy Laws Her Empire to sustain. 
And with full Pow'r assert Her ambient Main : 
But sometimes too Industrious to be Great, 
Nor Patient to expe6l the Turns of Fate, 
They open'd Camps deform'd by Civil Fight, 
And made proud Conquest trample over Right : 
Disparted Britain mourn'd Their doubtful Sway, 
And dreaded Both, when Neither would obey. 

VII. 

From DiDiER, and Imperial Adolph trace 
The Glorious Offspring of the Nassaw Race, 
Devoted Lives to Publick Liberty ; 
The Chief still dying, or the Country free, 

1 06 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Then see the Kindred Blood of Orange flow, 

From warlike Cornet, thro' the Loins of Beau ; 

Thro' Chalon next ; and there with Nassaw join, 

From Rhone's fair Banks transplanted to the Rhine. 

Bring next the Royal List of Stuarts forth, 

Undaunted Minds, that rul'd the rugged North ; 

'Till Heav'n's Decrees by rip'ning Times are shown ; ) 

'Till Scotland's Kings ascend the English Throne \ [ 

And the fair Rivals live for ever One. ) 

VIIL 

Janus, mighty Deity, 

Be kind ; and as Thy searching Eye 

Does our Modern Story trace. 

Finding some of Stuart's Race 

Unhappy, pass Their Annals by : 
No harsh Reflection let Remembrance raise : 
Forbear to mention, what Thou canst not praise : 
But as Thou dwell'st upon that Heav'nly *Name, 
To Grief for ever Sacred, as to Fame, 
Oh! read it to Thy self; in Silence weep; 
And Thy convulsive Sorrows inward keep ; 
Lest Britain's Grief should waken at the Sound ; 
And Blood gush fresh from Her eternal Wound. 

IX. 

Whither would'st Thou further look ? 
Read William's A6ls, and close the ample Book : 
Peruse the Wonders of His dawning Life ; 

How, like Alcides, He began ; 
With Lifant Patience calm'd Seditious Strife, 
And quell'd the Snakes which round his Cradle ran. 

X. 

Describe His Youth, attentive to Alarms, 
By Dangers form'd, and perfected in Arms : 
When Conqu'ring, mild ; when Conquer'd, not disgrac'd ; 
By Wrongs not lessen'd, nor by Triumphs rais'd : 

* Mj4Rr. 

107 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Superior to the blind Events 

Of little Human Accidents ; 

And constant to His first Decree, 
To curb the Proud, to set the Injur'd free ; 
To bow the haughty Neck, and raise the suppliant Knee. 

XI. 

His opening Years to riper Manhood bring ; 
And see the Hero perfeft in the King : 
Imperious Arms by Manly Reason sway'd, 
And Power Supreme by free Consent obey'd : 
With how much Haste His Mercy meets his Foes : 
And how unbounded His Forgiveness flows : 
With what Desire He makes His SubjecSls bless'd, 
His Favours granted ere His Throne address'd : 
What Trophies o'er our captiv'd Hearts He rears, 
By Arts of Peace more potent, than by Wars : 
How o'er Himself, as o'er the World, He Reigns, 
His Morals strength'ning, what His Law ordains. 

XII. 

Thro' all His Thread of Life already spun. 
Becoming Grace and proper A6lion run : 
The Piece by Virtue's equal Hand is wrought, 
Mix'd with no Crime, and shaded with no Fault : 

No Footsteps of the Victor's Rage 
Left in the Camp, where William did engage : 

No Tinfture of the Monarch's Pride 

Upon the Royal Purple spy'd : 

His Fame, like Gold, the more 'tis try'd, 
The more shall its intrinsic Worth proclaim ; 
Shall pass the Combat of the searching Flame, 

And triumph o'er the vanquish'd Heat, 
For ever coming out the same, 
And losing nor it's Lustre, nor it's Weight. 

xm. 

Janus be to William just ; 
To faithful History His A6lions trust : 

Command Her, with peculiar Care 
To trace each Toil, and comment ev'ry War : 

io8 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

His saving Wonders bid Her write 

In Chara6lers distinctly bright ; 

That each revolving Age may read 
The Patriot's Piety, the Hero's Deed : 
And still the Sire inculcate to his Son 
Transmissive Lessons of the King's Renow^n : 

That William's Glory still may live ; 

When all that present Art can give, 
The Pillar'd Marble, and the Tablet Brass, 
Mould'ring, drop the Victor's Praise : 

When the great Monuments of His Pow'r 

Shall now^ be visible no more : 
When Sambre shall have chang'd her w^inding Flood ; 

And Children ask, where Namur stood. 

XIV. 

Namur, proud City, how her Towr's were arm'd ! 

How She contemn'd th'approaching Foe ! 
'Till She by William's Trumpets was allarm'd. 
And shook, and sunk, and fell beneath His Blow. 

Jove and Pallas, mighty Pow'rs, 
Guided the Hero to the hostile Tow'rs. 

Perseus seem'd less swift in War, 

When, wing'd with Speed, he flew thro' Air. 

Embattl'd Nations strive in vain 

The Hero's Glory to restrain : 
Streams arm'd with Rocks, and Mountains red with Fire 

In vain against His Force conspire. 
Behold Him from the dreadful Height appear ! 
And lo ! Britannia's Lions waving there. 

XV. 

Europe freed, and France repell'd 

The Hero from the Height beheld : 
He spake the Word, that War and Rage should cease : 
He bid the Maese and Rhine in Safety flow ; 

And dictated a lasting Peace 

To the rejoicing World below : 
To rescu'd States, and vindicated Crowns 
His Equal Hand prescrib'd their ancient Bounds ; 

109 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Ordain'd whom ev'ry Province should obey ; 
How far each Monarch should extend His Sway : 
Taught 'em how Clemency made Pow'r rever'd ; 
And that the Prince Belov'd was truly Fear'd. 
Firm by His Side unspotted Honour stood, 
Pleas'd to confess Him not so Great as Good : 
His Head with brighter Beams fair Virtue deck't, 
Than Those which all His num'rous Crowns refle6l : 
Establish'd Freedom clap'd her joyful Wings ; 
Proclaimed the First of Men, and Best of Kings. 

XVI. 

Whither would the Muse aspire 

With Pindar's Rage without his Fire ? 

Pardon me, Janus, 'twas a Fault, 

Created by too great a Thought : 

Mindless of the God and Day, 

I from thy Altars, Janus, stray, 
From Thee, and from My self born far away. 

The fiery Pegasus disdains 
To mind the Rider's Voice, or hear the Reins : 
When glorious Fields and opening Camps He views ; 

He runs with an unbounded Loose : 
Hardly the Muse can sit the headstrong Horse : 
Nor would She, if She could, check his impetuous Force 
With the glad Noise the Cliff's and Vallies ring ; 
While She thro' Earth and Air pursues the King. 

XVH. 
She now beholds Him on the Belgic Shoar ; 
Whilst Britain's Tears His ready Help implore, 
Dissembling for Her sake his rising Cares, 
And with wise Silence pond'ring vengeful Wars. 

She thro' the raging Ocean now 
Views Him advancing his auspicious Prow ; 
Combating adverse Winds and Winter Seas, 
Sighing the Moments that defer Our Ease ; 
Daring to wield the Scepter's dang'rous Weight, 
And taking the Command, to save the State : 
Tho' e'er the doubtful Gift can be secur'd. 
New Wars must be sustain'd, new Wounds endur'd. 

IIO 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XVIII. 

Thro' rough Ierne's Camp She sounds Alarms, 
And Kingdoms yet to be redeem'd by Arms ; 
In the dank Marshes finds her glorious Theme ; 
And plunges after Him thro' Boyn's fierce Stream. 
She bids the Nereids run with trembling Haste, 
To tell old Ocean how the Hero past. 
The God rebukes their Fear, and owns the Praise 
Worthy that Arm, Whose Empire He obeys. 

XIX. 

Back to His Albion She delights to bring 
The humblest Viftor, and the kindest King. 
Albion, with open Triumph would receive 

Her Hero, nor obtains His Leave : 
Firm He rejects the Altars She would raise ; 
And thanks the Zeal, while He declines the Praise. 
Again She follows Him thro' Belgia's Land, 
And Countries often sav'd by William's Hand ; 
Hears joyful Nations bless those happy Toils, 
Which freed the People, but return'd the Spoils. 
In various Views She tries her constant Theme ; 
Finds Him in Councils, and in Arms the Same : 
When certain to o'ercome, inclin'd to save. 
Tardy to Vengeance, and with Mercy, Brave. 

XX. 

Sudden another Scene employs her Sight : 
She sets her Hero in another Light : 
Paints His great Mind Superior to Success, 
Declining Conquest, to establish Peace : 
She brings Astrea down to Earth again. 
And Quiet, brooding o'er His future Reign. 

XXI. 

Then with unweary'd Wing the Goddess soars 
East, over Danube and Propontis Shoars ; 
Where jarring Empires ready to engage. 
Retard their Armies, and suspend their Rage ; 



III 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

'Till William's Word, like That of Fate, declares, 

If They shall study Peace, or lengthen Wars. 

How sacred His Renown for equal Laws, 

To whom the World defers it's Common Cause ! 

How fair His Friendships, and His Leagues how just. 

Whom ev'ry Nation courts. Whom all Religions trust ! 

XXIL 

From the M^eotis to the Northern Sea, 

The Goddess wings her desp'rate Way ; 
Sees the young Muscovite, the mighty Head, 
Whose Sov'reign Terror forty Nations dread, 
Inamour'd with a greater Monarch's Praise, 
And passing half the Earth to His Embrace : 
She in His Rule beholds His Volga's Force, 
O'er Precipices, with impetuous Sway 
Breaking, and as He rowls his rapid Course, 
Drowning, or bearing down, whatever meets his Way. 
But her own King She likens to His Thames, 
With gentle Course devolving fruitful Streams : 
Serene yet Strong, Majestic yet Sedate, 
Swift without Violence, without Terror Great. 
Each ardent Nymph the rising Current craves : 
Each Shepherd's Pray'r retards the parting Waves : 
The Vales along the Bank their Sweets disclose : 
Fresh Flow'rs for ever rise : and fruitful Harvest grows. 

XXHL 

Yet whither would th'advent'rous Goddess go ? 
Sees She not Clouds, and Earth, and Main below ? 
Minds She the Dangers of the Lycian Coast, 
And Fields, where mad Belerophon was lost ? 

Or is Her tow'ring Flight reclaim'd 
By Seas from Icarus's Downfall nam'd ? 
Vain is the Call, and useless the Advice : 
To wise Perswasion Deaf, and human Cries, 

Yet upward She incessant flies ; 
Resolv'd to reach the high Empyrean Sphere, 
And tell Great Jove, She sings His Image here ; 

112 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

To ask for William an Olympic Crown, 

To Chromius' Strength, and Theron's Speed unknown : 

Till lost in trackless Fields of shining Day, 

Unable to discern the Way 
Which Nassaw's Virtue only could explore, 
Untouch'd, unknown, to any Muse before, 
She, from the noble Precipices thrown, 
Comes rushing with uncommon Ruin down. 

Glorious Attempt ! Unhappy Fate ! 
The Song too daring, and the Theme too great ! 

Yet rather thus She wills to die. 
Than in continu'd Annals live, to sing 
A second Heroe, or a vulgar King ; 

And with ignoble Safety fly 
In sight of Earth, along a middle Sky. 

XXIV. 

To Janus' Altars, and the numerous Throng, 

That round his mystic Temple press. 

For William's Life, and Albion's Peace, 
Ambitious Muse reduce the roving Song. 

Janus, cast Thy forward Eye 
Future, into great Rhea's pregnant Womb ; 

Where young Ideas brooding lye, 
And tender Images of Things to come : 

'Till by Thy high Commands releas'd ; 
'Till by Thy Hand in proper Atoms dress'd. 
In decent Order They advance to Light j 
Yet then too swiftly fleet by human Sight ; 
And meditate too soon their everlasting; Flip;ht. 

XXV. 

Nor Beaks of Ships in Naval Triumph born. 
Nor Standards from the hostile Ramparts torn. 

Nor Trophies brought from Battles won, 
Nor Oaken Wreath, nor Mural Crown 

Can any future Honours give 

To the Victorious Monarch's Name : 

The Plenitude of William's Fame 
Can no accumulated Stores receive. 



P. 



113 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Shut then, auspicious God, Thy Sacred Gate, 
And make Us Happy, as our King is Great. 

Be kind, and with a milder Hand, 
Closing the Volume of the finish'd Age, 

(Tho' Noble, 'twas an Iron Page) 

A more delightful Leaf expand. 
Free from Alarms, and fierce Bellona's Rage : 
Bid the great Months begin their joyful Round, 
By Flora some, and some by Ceres Crown'd : 
Teach the glad Hours to scatter, as they fly. 
Soft Quiet, gentle Love, and endless Joy : 
Lead forth the Years for Peace and Plenty fam'd. 
From Saturn's Rule, and better Metal nam'd. 

XXVL 

Secure by William's Care let Britain stand ; 

Nor dread the bold Invader's Hand : 
From adverse Shoars in Safety let Her hear 
Foreign Calamity, and distant War ; 
Of which let Her, great Heav'n, no Portion bear. 
Betwixt the Nations let Her hold the Scale ; 
And as She wills, let either Part prevail : 
Let her glad Vallies smile with wavy Corn : 
Let fleecy Flocks her rising Hills adorn : 
Around her Coast let strong Defence be spread : 
Let fair Abundance on her Breast be shed : 
And Heav'nly Sweets bloom round the Goddess' Head, 

xxvn. 

Where the white Towers and ancient Roofs did stand, 

Remains of Wolsey's or great Henry's Hand, 

To Age now yielding, or devour'd by Flame ; 

Let a young Phenix raise her tow'ring Head : 

Her Wings with lengthen'd Honour let Her spread ; 

And by her Greatness show her Builder's Fame. 

August and Open, as the Hero's Mind, 

Be her capacious Courts design'd : 

Let ev'ry Sacred Pillar bear 
Trophies of Arms, and Monuments of War. 

114 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

The King shall there in Parian Marble breath, 
His Shoulder bleedino- fresh : and at His Feet 

Disarm'd shall lye the threat'ning Death : 
(For so was saving Jove's Decree compleat.) 
Behind, That Angel shall be plac'd, whose Shield 

Sav'd Europe, in the Blow repell'd : 
On the firm Basis, from his Oozy Bed 

BoYN shall raise his Laurell'd Head ; 

And his Immortal Stream be known, 
Artfully waving thro' the wounded Stone. 

xxvin. 

And Thou, Imperial Windsor, stand inlarg'd. 

With all the Monarch's Trophies charg'd : 
Thou, the fair Heav'n, that dost the Stars inclose, 
Which William's Bosom wears, or Hand bestows 
On the great Champions who support his Throne, 
And Virtues nearest to His own. 
XXIX. 
Round Ormond's Knee Thou ty'st the Mystic String, 
That makes the Knight Companion to the King. 
From glorious Camps return'd, and foreign Feilds, 
Bowing before thy sainted Warrior's Shrine, 
Fast by his great Forefather's Coats, and Shields 
Blazon'd from Bohun's, or from Butler's Line, 
He hangs His Arms ; nor fears those Arms should shine 
With an unequal Ray ; or that His Deed 

With paler Glory should recede, 
Eclips'd by Theirs ; or lessen'd by the Fame 
Ev'n of His own Maternal Nassaw's Name. 

XXX. 

Thou smiling see'st great Dorset's Worth confest, 

The Ray distinguishing the Patriot's Breast : 

Born to prote6l and love, to help and please ; 

Sov'reign of Wit, and Ornament of Peace. 

O ! long as Breath informs this fleeting Frame, 

Ne'er let me pass in Silence Dorset's Name ; 

Ne'er cease to mention the continu'd Debt, "| 

Which the great Patron only would forget, I 

And Duty, long as Life, must study to acquit. J 

H2 115 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XXXI. 

Renown'd in Thy Records shall Ca'ndish stand, 

Asserting Legal Pow'r, and just Command : 

To the great House thy Favour shall be shown, 

The Father's Star transmissive to the Son. 

From Thee the Talbot's and the Seymour's Race 

Inform'd, Their Sire's immortal Steps shall trace : 

Happy may their Sons receive 

The bright Reward, which Thou alone canst give. 

XXXII. 

And if a God these lucky Numbers guide ; 
If sure Apollo o'er the Verse preside ; 
Jersey, belov'd by all (For all must feel 

The Influence of a Form and Mind, 
Where comely Grace and constant Virtue dwell. 
Like mingl'd Streams, more forcible when join'd.) 

Jersey shall at Thy Altars stand ; 

Shall there receive the Azure Band, 
That fairest Mark of Favour and of Fame, 

Familiar to the Vilier's Name. 

XXXIII. 

Science to raise, and Knowledge to enlarge, 

Be our great Master's future Charge ; 
To write His own Memoirs, and leave His Heirs 
High Schemes of Government, and Plans of Wars ; 
By fair Rewards our Noble Youth to raise 
To emulous Merit, and to Thirst of Praise ; 
To lead Them out from Ease e'er opening Dawn, 
Through the thick Forest and the distant Lawn, 
Where the fleet Stag employs their ardent Care ; 
And Chases give Them Images of War. 
To teach Them Vigilance by false Alarms ; 
Inure Them in feign'd Camps to real Arms ; 
Practise Them now to curb the turning Steed, 
Mocking the Foe ; now to his rapid Speed 
To give the Rein ; and in the full Career, 
To draw the certain Sword, or send the pointed Spear. 

ii6 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

XXXIV. 

Let Him unite His Subjects Hearts, 
Planting Societies for peaceful Arts ; 
Some that in Nature shall true Knowledge found, 
And by Experiment make Precept sound ; 
Some that to Morals shall recal the Age, 
And purge from vitious Dross the sinking Stage ; 
Some that with Care true Eloquence shall teach, 
And to just Idioms fix our doubtful Speech : 
That from our Writers distant Realms may know. 

The Thanks We to our Monarch owe ; 
And Schools profess our Tongue through ev'ry Land, 
That has invok'd His Aid, or blest His Hand. 

XXXV. 

Let His high Pow'r the drooping Muses rear. 
The Muses only can reward His Care : 
'Tis They that guard the great Atrides' Spoils : 
'Tis They that still renew Ulysses' Toils : 
To Them by smiling Jove 'twas giv'n, to save 
Distinguish'd Patriots from the Common Grave ; 
To them. Great William's Glory to recal, 
When Statues moulder, and when Arches fall. 
Nor let the Muses, with ungrateful Pride, 

The Sources of their Treasure hide : 
The Heroe's Virtue does the String inspire, 
When with big Joy They strike the living Lyre : 

On William's Fame their Fate depends : 
With Him the Song; begins : with Him it ends. 

From the bright Effluence of His Deed 

They borrow that refleiled Light, 

With which the lasting Lamp They feed. 
Whose Beams dispel the Damps of envious Night. 

XXXVI. 

Through various Climes, and to each distant Pole 
In happy Tides let aftive Commerce rowl : 
Let Britain's Ships export an Aimual Fleece, 
Richer than Argos brought to ancient Greece ; 



117 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Returning loaden with the shining Stores, 
Which lye profuse on either India's Shores. 
As our high Vessels pass their wat'ry Way, 
Let all the Naval World due Homage pay ; 
With hasty Reverence their Top-Honours lower, 

Confessing the asserted Power, 
To Whom by Fate 'twas given, with happy Sway 
To calm the Earth, and vindicate the Sea. 

XXXVII. 

Our Pray'rs are heard, our Master's Fleets shall go, 

As far as Winds can bear, or Waters flow, 

New Lands to make, new Indies to explore, 

In Worlds unknown to plant Britannia's Power ; 

Nations yet wild by Precept to reclaim. 

And teach 'em Arms, and Arts, in William's Name. 

XXXVIII. 

With humble Joy, and with respectful Fear 

The list'ning People shall His Story hear. 

The Wounds He bore, the Dangers He sustain'd, 

How far he Conquer'd, and how well he Reign'd ; 

Shall own his Mercy equal to His Fame ; 

And form their Children's Accents to His Name, 

Enquiring how, and when from Heav'n He came. 

Their Regal Tyrants shall with Blushes hide 

Their little Lusts of Arbitrary Pride, 

Nor bear to see their Vassals ty'd : 
When William's Virtues raise their opening Thought, 
His forty Years for Publick Freedom fought, 

Europe by His Hand sustain'd, 

His Conquest by His Piety restrain'd. 
And o'er Himself the last great Triumph gain'd. 

XXXIX. 

No longer shall their wretched Zeal adore 

Ideas of destructive Power, 
Spirits that hurt, and Godheads that devour : 
New Incense They shall bring, new Altars raise. 
And fill their Temples with a Stranger's Praise ; 

ii8 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

When the Great Father's Character They find 

Visibly stampt upon the Hero's Mind ; 

And own a present Deity confest, 

In Valour that preserv'd, and Power that bless'd. 

XL. 

Through the large Convex of the Azure Sky 

(For thither Nature casts our common Eye) 

Fierce Meteors shoot their arbitrary Light ; 

And Comets march with lawless Horror bright : 

These hear no Rule, no righteous Order own ; 

Their Influence dreaded, as their Ways unknown : 

Thro' threaten'd Lands They wild Destru6lion throw ; 

'Till ardent Prayer averts the Public Woe : 

But the bright Orb that blesses all above, 

The sacred Fire, the real Son of Jove, 

Rules not His A6lions by Capricious Will ; 

Nor by ungovern'd Power declines to 111 : 

Fix'd by just Laws He goes for ever right : 

Man knows His Course, and thence adores His Light. 

XLI. 

O Janus ! would intreated Fate conspire 
To grant what Britain's Wishes could require ; 
Above, That Sun should cease his Way to go, 
E'er William cease to rule, and bless below : 

But a relentless Destiny 

Urges all that e'er was born : 
Snatch'd from her Arms, Britannia once must mourn 
The Demi-God : The Earthly Half must die. 
Yet if our Incense can Your Wrath remove ; 
If human Prayers avail on Minds above ; 
Exert, great God, Thy Int'rest in the Sky ; 
Gain each kind Pow'r, each Guardian Deity, 

That conquer'd by the publick Vow, 
They bear the dismal Mischief far away : 
O ! long as utmost Nature may allow. 

Let Them retard the threaten'd Day : 
Still be our Master's Life Thy happy Care : 
Still let His Blessings with His Years increase : 

"9 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

To His laborious Youth consum'd in War, 
Add lasting Age, adorn'd and crown'd with Peace 
Let twisted Olive bind those Laurels fast, 
Whose Verdure must for ever last. 

XLIL 

Long let this growing i^RA bless His Sway : 
And let our Sons His present Rule obey : 
On His sure Virtue long let Earth rely : 
And late let the Imperial Eagle fly, 
To bear the Hero thro' His Father's Sky, 
To Leda's Twins, or He whose glorious Speed 
On Foot prevail'd, or He who tam'd the Steed ; 
To Hercules, at length absolv'd by Fate 
From Earthly Toil, and above Envy great ; 
To Virgil's Theme, bright Cytherea's Son, 
Sire of the Latian, and the British Throne ; 

To all the radiant Names above, 

Rever'd by Men, and dear to Jove. 

Late, Janus, let the NASSAW-Star 
New burn, in rising Majesty appear. 

To triumph over vanquish'd Night, 

And guide the prosp'rous Mariner 
With everlasting Beams of friendly Light. 



120 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

An ODE. 

Inscribed to the Memory of the 

Hon^^^ Col. George Villiers^ 

Drowned in the River Piava^ in the 
Country of Friuli. 1703. 

In Imitation of Horace^ Ode 28. Lib. i. 

'Te Maris <y Terra numeroque carentis aren<e 
Mensorem cohibent^ Archyta, &c. 

SAY, dearest Villiers, poor departed Friend 
(Since fleeting Life thus suddenly must end) 
Say, what did all thy busie Hopes avail, 
That anxious Thou from Pole to Pole didst sail ; 
E'er on thy Chin the springing Beard began 
To spread a doubtful Down, and promise Man ? 
What profited thy Thoughts, and Toils, and Cares, 
In Vigour more confirm'd, and riper Years ? 
To wake e'er Morning-dawn to loud Alarms, 
And march 'till close of Night in heavy Arms ? 
To scorn the Summer Suns and Winter Snows, 
And search thro' ev'ry Clime thy Country's Foes ? 
That Thou might'st Fortune to thy Side ingage ; ' 

That gentle Peace might quell Bellona's Rage ; I 

And Anna's Bounty crown Her Soldier's hoary Age ? 
In vain We think, that free-will'd Man has Pow'r 
To hasten or protraft th' appointed Hour. 
Our Term of Life depends not on our Deed : 
Before our Birth our Funeral was decreed. 
Nor aw'd by Foresight, nor mis-led by Chance, 
Imperious Death directs His Ebon Lance ; 
Peoples great Henry's Ton^bs, and leads up Holben's Dance 

121 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Alike must ev'ry State, and ev'ry Age 
Sustain the universal Tyrant's Rage : 
For neither William's Pow'r, nor Mary's Charms 
Could or repel, or pacific his Arms : 
Young Churchill fell, as Life began to bloom : 
And Bradford's trembling Age expefts the Tomb. 
Wisdom and Eloquence in vain w^ould plead 
One Moment's Respite for the learned Head : 
Judges of Writings and of Men have dy'd ; 
Mecjenas, Sackville, Socrates, and Hyde : 
And in their various Turns the Sons must tread 
Those gloomy Journeys, which their Sires have led. 

The ancient Sage, vv^ho did so long maintain. 
That Bodies die, but Souls return again. 
With all the Births and Deaths He had in Store, 
Went out Pythagoras, and came no more. 

And modern As L, whose capricious Thought 

Is yet with Stores of wilder Notion fraught. 

Too soon convinc'd, shall yield that fleeting Breath, 

Which play'd so idly with the Darts of Death. 

Some from the stranded Vessel force their Way : 
Fearful of Fate, they meet it in the Sea : 
Some who escape the Fury of the Wave, 
Sicken on Earth, and sink into a Grave : 
In Journeys or at home, in War or Peace, 
By Hardships Many, Many fall by Ease. 
Each changing Season does it's Poison bring : 
Rheums chill the Winter; Agues blast the Spring: 
Wet, Dry, Cold, Hot, at the appointed Hour, 
All aft subservient to the Tyrant's Pow'r : 
And when obedient Nature knows His Will, 
A Fly, a Grape-stone, or a Hair can kill. 

For restless Proserpine for ever treads 
In Paths unseen, o'er our devoted Heads ; 
And on the spacious Land, and liquid Main "j 

Spreads slow Disease, or darts aiHidtive Pain : J- 

Variety of Deaths confirms her endless Reign. J 

122 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

On curst Piava's Banks the Goddess stood ; 
Show'd her dire Warrant to the rising Flood ; 
When What I Jong must love, and long must mourn, 
With fatal Speed was urging his Return ; 
In his dear Country to disperse his Care, 
And arm himself by Rest for future War ; 
To chide his anxious Friend's officious Fears, 
And promise to their Joys his elder Years. 

Oh ! destin'd Head ; and oh ! severe Decree : 
Nor native Country Thou, nor Friend shalt see ; 
Nor War hast thou to wage, nor Year to come : 
Impending Death is thine, and instant Doom. 

Hark ! the imperious Goddess is obey'd : 
Winds murmur ; Snows descend ; and Waters spread : 

Oh ! Kinsman, Friend, O ! vain are all the Cries 

Of human Voice ; strong Destiny replies : 
Weep You on Earth ; for He shall sleep below : 
Thence None return ; and thither All must go. 

Whoe'er Thou art, whom Choice or Business leads 
To this sad River, or the neighb'ring Meads ; 
If Thou may'st happen on the dreary Shoars 
To find the Objedl which This Verse deplores ; 
Cleanse the pale Corps with a religious Hand 
From the polluting Weed and common Sand ; 
Lay the dead Hero graceful in a Grave ; 
(The only Honor He can now receive) 

And fragrant Mould upon his Body throw ; ] 

And plant the Warrior Lawrel o'er his Brow : I- 

Light lye the Earth ; and flourish green the Bough. j 

So may just Heav'n secure thy future Life 
From foreign Dangers, and domestic Strife : 
And when th' Infernal Judges dismal Pow'r 
From the dark Urn shall throw Thy destin'd Hour ; 
When yielding to the Sentence, breathless Thou 
And pale shalt lye, as what Thou buriest now ; 
May some kind Friend the piteous Objeft see, 
And equal Rites perform to That which once was Thee. 

123 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

PROLOGUE, 

SPOKEN AT 
COURT before the QUEEN, 

On Her Majesty s Birth-Day^ 1704- 

SHINE forth, Ye Planets, with distinguish'd Light, 
As when Ye hallow'd first this Happy Night : 
Again transmit your Friendly Beams to Earth, 
As when Britannia joy'd for Anna's Birth : 
And Thou, propitious Star, whose sacred Pow'r 
Presided o'er the Monarch's Natal Hour, 
Thy Radiant Voyages for ever run, 
Yielding to none but Cynthia, and the Sun : 
With Thy fair Aspeft still illustrate Heav'n : 
Kindly preserve what Thou hast greatly giv'n : 
Thy Influence for thy Anna We implore : 
Prolong One Life ; and Britain asks no more. 
For Virtue can no ampler Power express. 
Than to be Great in War, and Good in Peace : 
For Thought no higher Wish of Bliss can frame, 
Than to enjoy that Virtue Still the Same. 
Entire and sure the Monarch's Rule must prove, 
Who founds Her Greatness on Her Subjefts Love ; 
Who does our Homage for our Good require ; 
And Orders that which We should first Desire : 
Our vanquish'd Wills that pleasing Force obey : 
Her Goodness takes our Liberty away : 
And haughty Britain yields to Arbitrary Sway. 

Let the young Austrian then Her Terrors bear, 
Great as He is, Her Delegate in War : 
Let Him in 'Fhunder speak to both his Spains, 
That in these Dreadful Isles a Vv^oman Reigns. 
While the Bright Queen does on Her Subjects show'r 
The gentle Blessings of Her softer Pow'r ; 

124 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Gives sacred Morals to a vicious Age, 
To Temples Zeal, and Manners to the Stage ; 
Bids the chaste Muse vi^ithout a Blush appear, 
And Wit be that v/hich Heav'n and She may hear. 

Minerva thus to Perseus lent Her Shield ; 
Secure of Conquest, sent Him to the Field : 
The Hero ad:ed v/hat the Queen ordain'd : 
So was His Fame compleat, and Andromede unchain'd. 

Mean time amidst Her Native Temples sate 
The Goddess, studious of Her Grecian's Fate ; 
Taught 'em in Laws and Letters to excell, 
In Afting justly, and in Writing well. 
Thus whilst She did Her various Pow'r dispose, 
The World was freed from Tyrants, Wars, and Woes : 
Virtue was taught in Verse, and Athens' Glory rose. 



A. 

LETTER 

TO 

Monsieur Boileau Despreaux ; 

Occasion'd by the 

VICTORY at BLENHEIM, 

1704. 

■Cupidum^ Pater optime, vires 



Deficiunt : neque enim Quivis horrentia Pilis 
Agminay nee Fra5ld pereuntes cuspide Gallos- 



Hor. Sat. i. L. 2. 

SINCE hir'd for Life, thy Servile Muse must sing 
Successive Conquests, and a glorious King ; 
Must of a Man Immortal vainly boast ; 
And bring him Lawrels, whatsoe'er they cost : 

125 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

What Turn wilt Thou employ, what Colours lay 
On the Event of that Superior Day, 
In which one English Subjedt's prosp'rous Hand 
(So Jove did will; so Anna did command:) 
Broke the proud Column of thy Master's Praise, 
Which sixty Winters had conspir'd to raise ? 

From the lost Field a hundred Standards brought 
Must be the Work of Chance, and Fortune's Fault : 
Bavaria's Stars must be accus'd, which shone. 
That fatal Day the mighty Work was done, 
With Rays oblique upon the Gallic Sun. 
Some D^MON envying France mis-led the Fight : 
And Mars mistook, tho' Louis order'd right. 

When thy* young Muse invok'd the tuneful Nine, 
To say how Louis did not pass the Rhine, 
What Work had We with Wageninghen, Arnheim, 
Places that could not be reduc'd to Rhime ? 
And tho' the Poet made his last Efforts, 

WuRTS who could mention in Heroic Wurts? 

But, tell me, hast thou reason to complain 

Of the rough Triumphs of the last Campaign ? 

The Danube rescu'd, and the Empire sav'd, 

Say, is the Majesty of Verse retriev'd ? 

And would it prejudice thy softer vein. 

To sing the Princes, Louis and Eugene .? 

Is it too hard in happy Verse to place 

The Vans and Vanders of the Rhine and Maes ? 

Her Warriors Anna sends from Tweed and Thames, 

That France may fall by more harmonious Names. 

Can'st thou not Hamilton or Lumly bear ? 

Would Ingoldsby or Palmes offend thy Ear .? 

And is there not a Sound in Marlbro's Name, 

Which Thou and all thy Brethren ought to claim. 

Sacred to Verse, and sure of endless Fame ? 

CuTTs is in Meeter something harsh to read : 
Place me the Valiant Gouram in his stead : 



Epistre 4. du Sr. Boileau D6preaux au Roy. 
En vain, pour Te Lottery &c. 



126 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Let the Intention make the Number good : 

Let generous Sylvius speak for honest Wood. 

And tho' rough Churchill scarce in Verse will stand, 

So as to have one Rhime at his Command ; 

With Ease the Bard reciting Blenheim's Plain, 

May close the Verse, rememb'ring but the Dane, 

I grant, old Friend, old Foe (for such We are 
Alternate, as the Chance of Peace and War) 
That we Poetic Folks, who must restrain 
Our measur'd Sayings in an equal Chain, 
Have Troubles utterly unknown to Those, 
Who let their Fancy loose in rambling Prose. 

For Instance now, how hard it is for Me 
To make my Matter and my Verse agree ? 
In one great Day on HochstetV fatal Plain 
French and Bavarians twenty thousand slain j 
Puslid thro'' the Danube to the Shoars of Styx 
Squadrons eighteen^ Battalions twenty six ; 
Officers Captive made and private Men^ 
Of these twelve hundred^ of those thousands ten ; 
Tents^ Jmmunition, Colours^ Carriages^ 

Cannons^ and Kettle-Drums sweet Numbers these. 

But is it thus You English Bards compose ? 
With RuNiCK Lays thus tag insipid Prose ? 
And when you should your Heroes Deeds rehearse, 
Give us a Commissary's List in Verse ? 

Why Faith, Depreaux, there's Sense in what You say : 
I told You where my Difficulty lay : 
So vast, so numerous were great Blenheim's Spoils; 
They scorn the Bounds of Verse, and mock the Muse's Toils. 
To make the rough Recital aptly chime. 
Or bring the Sum of Gallia's Loss to Rhime, 
'Tis mighty hard : What Poet would essay 
To count the Streamers of my Lord Mayor's Day ? 
To number all the several Dishes drest 
By honest Lamb, last Coronation Feast ? 
Or make Arithmetic and Epic meet; 
And Newton's Thoughts in Dryden's Stile repeat ? 

127 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

O Poet, had it been Apollo's Will, 
That I had shar'd a Portion of thy Skill ; 
Had this poor Breast receiv'd the Heav'nly Beam ; 
Or could I hope my Verse might reach my Theam ; 
Yet, BoiLEAU, yet the lab'ring iVIuse should strive, 
Beneath the Shades of Marlbro's Wreaths to live : 
Should call aspiring Gods to bless her Choice ; 
And to their Fav'rite's Strain exalt her Voice, 
Arms and a Qiieen to Sing ; Who, Great and Good, 
From peaceful Thames to Danube's wond'ring Flood 
Sent forth the Terror of her high Commands, 
To save the Nations from invading Hands, 
To prop fair Liberty's declining Cause, 
And fix the jarring World w^ith equal Laws. 

The Queen should sit in Windsor's sacred Grove, 
Attended by the Gods of War, and Love : 
Both should with equal Zeal Her Smiles implore. 
To fix Her Joys, or to extend Her Pow'r. 

Sudden, the Nymphs and Tritons should appear ; 
And as great Anna's Smiles dispel their Fear, 
With aftive Dance should Her Observance claim ; 
With Vocal Shell should sound Her happy Name. 
Their Master Thames should leave the neighb'ring Shoar, 
By his strong Anchor known, and Silver Oar ; 
Should lay his Ensigns at his Sov'raign's Feet, 
And Audience mild with humble Grace intreat. 

To Her, his dear Defence, He should complain, 
That whilst He blesses Her indulgent Reign ; 
Whilst furthest Seas are by his Fleets survey'd, 
And on his happy Banks each India laid ; 
His Breth'ren Maes, and Waal, and Rhine, and Saar 
Feel the hard Burthen of oppressive War ; 
That Danube scarce retains his rightful Course 
Against two Rebel Armies neighb'ring Force ; 
And All must weep sad Captives to the Sein, 
Unless unchain'd and freed by Britain's Queen. 

128 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

The valiant Sov'reign calls Her Gen'ral forth ; 
Neither recites Her Bounty, nor His Worth : 
She tells Him, He must Europe's Fate redeem. 
And by That Labour merit Her Esteem : 
She bids Him wait Her to the Sacred Hall ; 
Shows Him Prince Edward, and the conquer'd Gaul ; 
Fixing the bloody Cross upon His Breast, 
Says, He must Dye, or succour the Distress'd : 
Placing the Saint an Emblem by His Side, 
She tells Him, Virtue arm'd must conquer lawless Pride. 

The Hero bows obedient, and retires : 
The Queen's Commands exalt the Warrior's Fires. 
His Steps are to the silent Woods inclin'd, 
The great Design revolving in his Mind : 
When to his Sight a Heav'nly Form appears : 
Her Hand a Palm, her Head a Lawrel wears. 

Me, She begins, the fairest Child of Jove, 
Below for ever sought, and bless'd above ; 
Me, the bright Source of Wealth, and Power, and Fame ; 
(Nor need I say, Victoria is my Name :) 
Me the great Father down to Thee has sent : 
He bids Me wait at Thy distinguish'd Tent, 
To execute what Anna's Wish would have : 
Her Subject Thou, I only am Her Slave. 

Dare then, Thou much belov'd by smiling Fate : 
For Anna's Sake, and in Her Name, be Great : 
Go forth, and be to distant Nations known, 
My future Fav'rite, and My darling Son. 
At ScHELLENBERG I'll manifest sustain ] 

Thy glorious Cause ; and spread my Wings again, ^ 

Conspicuous o'er Thy Helm, in Blenheim's Plain. ) 

The Goddess said, nor would admit Reply ; 
But cut the liquid Air, and gain'd the Sky. 

His high Commission is thro' Britain known ; 
And thronging Armies to His Standard run. 
He marches thoughtful ; and He speedy sails : 
(Bless Him, ye Seas ! and prosper Him, ye Gales !) 

P. I 129 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Belgia receives Him welcome to her Shores; 
And William's Death with lessen 'd Grief deplores. 
His Presence only must retrieve That Loss : 
Marlbro to Her must be what William was. 
So when great Atlas, from these low Aboads 
Recall'd, was gather'd to his Kindred-Gods ; 
Alcides respited by prudent Fate, 
Sustain'd the Ball, nor droop'd beneath the Weight. 

Secret and Swift behold the Chief advance ; 
Sees half the Empire join'd, and Friend to France : 
The British General dooms the Fight : His Sword 
Dreadful He draws : The Captains wait the Word. 
Anne and St. George, the charging Hero cries : 
Shrill Echo from the neighb'ring Wood replies 

Anne and St. George. At That auspicious Sign 

The Standards move ; the adverse Armies join. 

Of Eight great Hours, Time measures out the Sands ; 

And Europe's Fate in doubtful Balance stands : 

The Ninth, Victoria comes : o'er Marlbro's Head ^ 

Confess'd She sits : the Hostile Troops recede : ^ 

Triumphs the Goddess, from her Promise freed. J 

The Eagle, by the British Lion's Might 
Unchain'd and Free, dire(^i:s her upward Flight : 
Nor did She e'er with stronger Pinions soar 
From Tyber's Banks, than now from Danube's Shoar. 

Fir'd with the Thoughts which these Ideas raise, 
And great Ambition of my Country's Praise ; 
The English Muse should like the Mantuan rise ; "j 

Scornful of Earth and Clouds, should reach the Skies, J- 

With Wonder (tho' with Envy still) pursu'd by human Eyes. J 

But We must change the Style. Just now I said, 

I ne'er was Master of the tuneful Trade. 

Or the small Genius which my Youth could boast, 

In Prose and Business lies cxtindt and lost : 

Bless'd, if I may some younger Muse excite ; 

Point out the Game, and animate the Flight : 

That from Marseilles to Calais France may know, "j 

As We have Conqu'rors, We have Poets too ; J- 

And either Laurel does in Britain grow : j 

130 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

That, tho' amongst our selves, with too much Heat, 

We sometimes wrangle, when We should debate ; 

(A consequential 111 which Freedom draws ; 

A bad Effeft, but from a Noble Cause :) 

We can with universal Zeal advance. 

To curb the faithless Arrogance of France. 

Nor ever shall Britannia's Sons refuse 

To answer to thy Master, or thy Muse ; 

Nor want just Subjeft for victorious Strains, 

While Marlbro's Arm Eternal Laurel gains ; 

And where old Spencer sung, a new Elisa reigns. 



FOR 

The Plan of a Fountain, 

On which is 

The Effigies of the Queen o?i a 
Triumphal Arch^ 

The Figure of the Duke of Marlborough, 
beneath, 

and 

The Chief Rivers of the World round the whole 

Work. 

YE aftive Streams, where-e'er your Waters flow. 
Let distant Climes and furthest Nations know. 
What Ye from Thames and Danube have been taught. 
How Anne Commanded, and how Marlbro Fought. 

^^acunque aterno properatisy Flumina^ lapsii^ 
Divisis late Terris, Populisque remotis 
Dicite, nam vob'is Tamisis narravit & Ister, 
Anna quid Imperils potuit^ quid Marlburus Armis. 

12 131 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

THE 
CHAMELEON, 



yVS the Chameleon, who is known 
±\_ To have no Colors of his own ; 
But borrows from his Neighbour's Hue 
His White or Black, his Green or Blew ; 
And struts as much in ready Light, 
Which Credit gives Him upon Sight ; 
As if the Rain-bow were in Tail 
Settl'd on Him, and his Heirs Male : 
So the young 'Squire, when first He comes 
From Country School to Will's or Tom's ; 
And equally, in Truth, is fit 
To be a Statesman, or a Wit ; 
Without one Notion of his own, 
He Santers wildly up and down ; 
'Till some Acquaintance, good or bad, 
Takes notice of a staring Lad \ 
Admits Him in among the Gang : 
Thev jest, reply, dispute, harangue : 
He a6ls and talks, as They befriend Him, 
Smear'd with the Colors, which They lend Him. 

Thus merely, as his Fortune chances, 
His Merit, or his Vice advances. 

If happly He the Sec^t pursues. 
That read and comment upon News ; 
He takes up Their mysterious Face : 
He drinks his Coffee without Lace. 
This Week his Mimic-Tongue runs o'er 
What They have said the Week before. 
His Wisdom sets all Europe right ; 
And teaches Marlbro when to Fight. 

132 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Or if it be his Fate to meet 
With Folks who have more Wealth than Wit ; 
He loves cheap Port^ and double Bub ; 
And settles in the Hum-Dnan Club. 
He learns how Stocks will Fall or Rise ; 
Holds Poverty the greatest Vice ; 
Thinks Wit the Bane of Conversation ; 
And says, that Learning spoils a Nation. 

But if, at first, He minds his Hits, 
And drinks Champaign among the Wits ; 
Five deep, He toasts the tow'ring Lasses ; 
Repeats you Verses wrote on Glasses ; 
Is in the Chair ; prescribes the Law ; 
And Lies with Those he never saw. 



MERRY ANDREW. 

SLY Merry Andrew, the last Sonthwark Fair 
(At BarthoPmew He did not much appear ; 
So peevish was the Edi6l of the May'r.) 
At Southwark^ therefore, as his Tricks He show'd. 
To please our Masters, and his Friends, the Croud ; 
A huge Neats-Tongue He in his Rig-ht Hand held : 
His Left was with a good Black-Pudding fill'd. 
With a grave Look, in this odd Equipage, 
The clownish Mimic traverses the Stage : 
Why how now, Andrew ! cries his Brother Droll, 
To-Day's Conceit, methinks, is something dull : 
Come on. Sir, to our worthy Friends explain. 
What does Your Emblematic Worship mean ? 
Quoth Andrew ; Honest English let Us speak : 
Your Emble- (what d'ye call't ?) is Heathen Greek. 
To Tongue or Pudding Thou hast no Pretence : 
Learning Thy Talent is ; but Mine is Sense. 
That busie Fool I was, which Thou art now ; 
Desirous to correct, not knowing how ; 



133 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

With very good Design, but little Wit, 

Blaming or praising Things, as I thought fit. 

I for this Conduft had what I deserv'd ; 

And dealing honestly, was almost starv'd. 

But Thanks to my indulgent Stars, I Eat ; 

Since I have found the Secret to be Great. 

O dearest Andrew, says the humble Droll, 

Henceforth may I Obey, and Thou Controll : 

Provided Thou impart Thy useful Skill. 

Bow then, says Andrew ; and, for once, I will. 

Be of your Patron's Mind, whate'er He says ; 

Sleep very much ; Think little ; and Talk less : 

Mind neither Good nor Bad, nor Right nor Wrong; 

But Eat your Pudding, Slave; and Hold your Tongue. 

A Rev'rend Prelate stopt his Coach and Six, 
To laugh a little at our Andrew's Tricks. 
But when He heard him give this Golden Rule ; 
Drive on; (He cry'd) This Fellow is no Fool. 



A 
SIMILE. 

DEAR Thomas, didst Thou never pop 
Thy Head into a Tin-man's Shop ? 
There, Thomas, didst Thou never see 
('Tis but by way of Simile) 
A Squirrel spend his little Rage, 
In jumping round a rowling Cage ? 
The Cage, as either Side turn'd up. 
Striking a Ring of Bells a-top ? 

Mov'd in the Orb, pleas'd with the Chimes, 
The foolish Creature thinks he climbs : 
But here or there, turn Wood or Wire, 
He never gets two Inches higher. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

So fares it with those merry Blades, 
That frisk it under Pindus' Shades. 
In noble Songs, and lofty Odes, 
They tread on Stars, and talk with Gods ; 
Still Dancing in an airy Round, 
Still pleas'd with their own Verses Sound ; 
Brought back, how fast soe'er they go ; 
Always aspiring, always low. 



The FLIES. 

SAY, Sire of Inserts, mighty Sol 
(A Fly upon the Chariot-Pole 
Cries out) what Blew-Bottle alive 
Did ever with such Fury drive ? 
Tell, Belzebub, Great Father, tell 
(Says t'other, perch'd upon the Wheel) 
Did ever any Mortal Fly 
Raise such a Cloud of Dust, as I ? 

My Judgement turn'd the whole Debate : 
My Valor sav'd the sinking State. 
So talk two idle buzzing Things ; 
Toss up their Heads, and stretch their Wings. 
But let the Truth to Light be brought : 
This neither spoke, nor t'other fought : 
No Merit in their own Behav'or : 
Both rais'd, but by their Party's Favor. 



From the Greek, 

GREAT Bacchus, born in Thunder and in Fire, 
By Native Heat asserts His dreadful Sire. 
Nourish'd near shady Rills and cooling Streams, 
He to the Nymphs avows his Am'rous Flames. 
To all the Breth'ren at the Bell and Vine^ 
The Moral says ; Mix Water with your Wine. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



EPIGRAM. 

FRANK Carves very ill, yet will palm all the Meats : 
He Eats more than Six ; and Drinks more than he Eats. 
Four Pipes after Dinner he constantly smokes ; 
And seasons his Whifs w^ith impertinent Jokes. 
Yet sighing, he says. We must certainly break ; | 

And my cruel Unkindness compells him to speak : [ 

For of late I invite Him but Four Times a Week. J 



ANOTHER. 

To John I ow'd great Obligation ; 
But John, unhappily, thought fit 
To publish it to all the Nation : 

Sure John and I are more than Qiiit. 



ANOTHER. 

YES, every Poet is a Fool : 
By De?iionstration Ned can show it 
Happy, cou'd Ned's inverted Rule 
Prove every Fool to be a Poet. 



ANOTHER. 

THY Naggs (the leanest Things alive) 
So very hard Thou lov'st to drive ; 
I heard thy anxious Coach-man say, 
It costs Thee more in Whips, than Hay. 

136 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



T^o a Person who wrote I 11^ and spake 
Worse a^ai7tst Me. 

o 

LYE, Philo, untouch'd on my peaceable Shelf; 
Nor take it amiss, that so little I heed Thee ; 
I've no Envy to Thee, and some Love to my Self: 

Then why shou'd I ansvi^er ; since first I must read Thee ? 

Drunk with Helicon's Waters and double-brew'd Bub, 

Be a Linguist, a Poet, a Critic, a Wag ; 
To the solid Delight of thy Well-judging Club, 

To the Damage alone of thy Bookseller Brag. 

Pursue me with Satyr : what Harm is there in't ? 

But from all viva voce Refleftion forbear : 
There can be no Danger from what Thou shalt Print : 

There may be a little from what Thou may'st swear. 



On the Same Person. 

WHILE faster than his costive Brain indites, 
Philo's quick Hand in flowing Letters writes ; 
His Case appears to Me like honest Teague's, 
When he was run away with, by his Legs. 
Phoebus, give Philo o'er Himself Command ; 
Quicken his Senses, or restrain His Hand. 
Let Him be kept from Paper, Pen, and Ink : 
So may He cease to Write, and learn to Think. 



Quid sit futuru7n Cras fuge qucerere. 

f^'OR what To-morrow shall disclose, 
May spoil what You To-night propose: 
England may change ; or Cloe stray : 
Love and Life are for To-day. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

HENRT and EMMA, 
A POEM, 

Upon the Model of 

The Nut-brown Maid. 

To CLOE. 

THOU, to whose Eyes I bend ; at whose Command, 
(Tho' low my Voice, tho' artless be my Hand) 
I take the sprightly Reed, and sing, and play ; 
Careless of what the cens'ring World may say : 
Bright Cloe, Objeifl: of my constant Vow, 
Wilt thou awhile unbend thy serious Brow ? 
Wilt thou with Pleasure hear Thy Lover's Strains, 
And with one Heav'nly Smile o'erpay His Pains ? 
No longer shall the Nut-brown Maid be old ; 
Tho' since her Youth three hundred Years have roll'd. 
At Thy Desire, She shall again be rais'd ; 
And her reviving Charms in lasting Verse be prais'd. 

No longer Man of Woman shall complain, 
That He may Love, and not be Lov'd a2;ain : 
That We in vain the fickle Sex pursue. 
Who change the Constant Lover for the New. 
Whatever has been writ, whatever said 
Of Female Passion feign'd, or Faith decay'd ; 
Henceforth shall in my Verse refuted stand. 
Be said to Winds, or writ upon the Sand. 
And while my Notes to future Times proclaim 
Unconquer'd Love, and ever-during Flame ; 
O fairest of the Sex ! be Thou my Muse : 
Deign on my Work thy Influence to diffuse. 
Let me partake the Blessings I rehearse ; 
And grant me Love, the just Reward of Verse. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

As Beauty's Potent Queen, with ev'ry Grace 
That once was Emma's, has adorn'd Thy Face ; 
And as Her Son has to My Bosom dealt 
That constant Flame, which faithful Henry felt : 
O let the Story with Thy Life agree ; 
Let Men once more the bright Example see ; 
What Emma was to Him, be Thou to Me. 
Nor send Me by thy Frown from Her I love. 
Distant and sad, a banish'd Man to rove. 
But oh ! with Pity long intreated Crown 
My Pains and Hopes ; and when thou say'st that One 
Of all Mankind thou lov'st ; Oh ! think on Me alone. 

WHERE beauteous Isis and her Husband Tame 
With mingl'd Waves, for ever, flow the Same : 
In Times of Yore, an antient Baron liv'd ; 
Great Gifts bestow'd, and great Respeft receiv'd. 

When dreadful Edward, with successful Care, 
Led his free Britons to the Gallic War ; 
This Lord had Headed his appointed Bands, 
In firm Allegiance to his King's Commands. 
And (all due Honors faithfully discharg'd) 
Has brought back his Paternal Coat, inlarg'd 
With a new Mark, the Witness of his Toil ; 
And no inglorious part of Foreign Spoil. 

From the loud Camp retir'd, and noisy Court, 
In Honorable Ease and Rural Sport, 
The Remnant of his Days, He safely past ; 
Nor found they Lagg'd too slow, nor Flew too fast. 
He made his Wish with his Estate comply ; 
Joyful to Live, yet not afraid to Dye. 

One Child He had, a Daughter chast and fair ; 
His Age's Comfort, and his Fortune's Heir. 
They call'd her Emma ; for the beauteous Dame 
Who gave the Virgin Birth, had born the Name. 
The Name th' indulgent Father doubly lov'd ; 
For in the Child the Mother's Charms improv'd. 
Yet, as when little, round his Knees She plaid ; 
He call'd her oft, in Sport, His Nut-brown Maid: 



139 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The Friends and Tenants took the fondling Word ; 

(As still they please, who imitate their Lord) 

Usage connrm'd what Fancy had begun : 1 

The mutual Terms around the Lands were known ; r 

And ICmma and the Nut-Brown Maid were One. j 

As with her Stature, still her Charms encreas'd ; 
Thro' all the Isle her Beauty was confess'd. 
Oh ! what Perfections must that Virgin share, 
Who Fairest is esteem'd, where all are Fair ? 
From distant Shires repair the noble Youth, 
And find. Report, for once, had lessen'd Truth. 
By Wonder first, and then by Passion mov'd, 
They came ; they saw ; they marvell'd ; and they lov'd. 
By public Praises, and by secret Sighs, 
Each own'd the gen'ral Pow'r of Emma's Eyes. 
In Tilts and Turnaments the Valiant strove, 
By glorious Deeds, to purchase Emma's Love. 
In gentle Verse, the Witty told their Flame, 
And grac'd their choicest Songs with Emma's Name. 
In vain they Combated, in vain they Writ : 
Useless their Strength, and impotent their Wit. 
Great Venus only must direft the Dart, ] 

Which else will never reach the Fair one's Heart ; ;- 

Spight of th' Attempts of Force, and soft EfFefts of Art. ) 
Great Venus must prefer the happy One : \ 

In Henr> 's Cause Her Favour must be shown : |- 

And Emma, of Mankind, must Love but Him alone. J 

While These, in Public, to the Castle came, 
And by their Grandeur justify'd their Flame : 
More secret Ways the careful Henry takes ; 
His Squires, his Arms, and Equipage forsakes. 
In borrow'd Name, and false Attire, array'd, 
Oft He finds Means to see the beauteous Maid. 

When Emma hunts, in Huntsman's Habit drest, 
Henry on P'oot pursues the bounding Beast. 
In his right Hand his beachen Pole he bears : 
And graceful at his Side his Horn he wears. 
Still to the Glade, where She has bent her Way, 
With knowing Skill he drives the future Prey. 

140 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Bids her decline the Hill, and shun the Brake ; 
And shews the Path her Steed may safest take. 
Diredls her Spear to fix the glorious Wound ; 
Pleas'd, in his Toils, to have her Triumph Ciown'd : 
And blows her Praises in no common Sound. 

A Faic'ner Henrv is, when Emma Hawks: 
With her of Tarsels, and of Lures he talks. 
Upon his Wrist the tow'ring Merlin stands ; 
Praftis'd to rise, and stoop, at her Commands. 
And when Superior now the Bird has flown. 
And headlong brought the tumbling Qviarry down : 
With humble Rev'rence he accosts the Fair ; 
And with the honor'd Feather decks her Hair. 
Yet still, as from the sportive Field She goes, 
His down-cast Eye reveals his inward Woes. 
And by his Look and Sorrow is exprest, 
A nobler Game pursu'd, than Bird or Beast. 

A Shepherd now along the Plain he roves ; 
And, with his jolly Pipe, delights the Groves. 
The neighb'ring Swains around the Stranger throng, 
Or to admire, or emulate his Song : 
While, with soft Sorrow, he renews his Lays, 
Nor heedful of their Envy, nor their Praise. 
But soon as Emma's Eyes adorn the Plain, 
His Notes he raises to a nobler Strain ; 
With dutiful Respedl, and studious Fear, 
Lest any careless Sound offend her Ear. 

A frantick Gipsey, now the House He haunts, 
And in wild Phrases, speaks dissembled Wants. 
With the fond Maids in Palmistry he deals : 
They Tell the Secret first, which he Reveals : 
Says who shall Wed, and who shall be Beguil'd ; 
What Groom shall Get, and Squire maintain the Child. 
But when bright Emma wou'd her P'ortune know ; 
A softer Look unbends his op'ning Brow. 
With trembling Awe, he gazes on her Eye ; 
And in soft Accents, forms the kind Reply ; 
That She shall prove as Fortunate as Fair, 
And Hymen's choicest Gifts are All reserv'd for Her. 



141 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Now oft had Henry chang'd his sly Disguise ; 
Unmark'd by all, but beauteous Emma's Eyes. 
Oft had found Means alone to see the Dame, 
And at her Feet to breath his am'rous Elame ; 
And oft, the Pangs of Absence to remove 
By Letters, soft Interpreters of Love : 
'Till Time and Industry (the mighty Two 
That bring our Wishes nearer to our View) 
Made him perceive, that the inclining Fair 
Receiv'd his Vows with no reluctant Ear ; 
That Venus had confirm'd her equal Reign, 
And dealt to Emma's Heart a share of Henry's Pain. 

While Cupid smil'd, by kind Occasion bless'd, 
And, with the Secret kept, the Love increas'd ; 
The am'rous Youth frequents the silent Groves ; 
And much He meditates ; for much He loves. 
He loves : 'tis true ; and is belov'd again : 
Great are his Joys : but will they long remain ? 
Emma with Smiles receives his present Flame ; 
But smiling, will She ever be the same ? 
Beautiful Looks are rul'd by fickle Minds ; 
And Summer Seas are turn'd by sudden Winds. 
Another Love may gain her easie Youth: 
Time changes Thought ; and Flatt'ry conquers Truth. 

O impotent Estate of human Life ! 
Where Hope and Fear maintain eternal Strife : 
Where fleeting Joy does lasting Doubt inspire ; 
And most We Question, what We most Desire. 
Amongst thy various Gifts, great Heav'n, bestow 
Our Cup of Love unmix'd ; forbear to throw 
Bitter Ingredients in ; nor pall the Draught 
With nauseous Grief: for our ill-judging Thought 
Hardly injoys the pleasurable Taste ; 
Or deems it not sincere ; or fears it cannot last. 

With Wishes rais'd, with Jealousies opprest 
(Alternate Tyrants of the Human Breast) 
By one great Tryal He resolves to prove 
The Faith of Woman, and the Force of Love. 

142 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

If scanning Emma's Virtues, He may find 
That beauteous Frame inclose a steady Mind ; 
He'll fix his Hope, of future Joy secure ; 
And live a Slave to Hymen's happy Pow'r. 
But if the Fair one, as he fears, is frail ; 
If pois'd aright in Reason's equal Scale, 
Light fly her Merits, and her Faults prevail ; 
His Mind He vows to free from am'rous Care, 
The latent Mischief from his Heart to tear. 
Resume his Azure Arms, and shine again in War. 

South of the Castle, in a verdant Glade, 
A spreading Beach extends her friendly Shade : 
Here oft the Nymph His breathing Vows had heard : 
Here oft Her Silence had Her Heart declar'd. 
As aftive Spring awalc'd her Infant Buds ; 
And genial Life inform'd the verdant Woods ; 
Henry, in Knots involving Emma's Name, 
Had half express'd, and half conceal'd his Flame 
Upon This Tree : and as the tender Mark 
Grew with the Year, and widen'd with the Bark : 
Venus had heard the Virgin's soft Address, 
That, as the Wound, the Passion might increase. 
As potent Nature shed her kindly Show'rs, 
And deck'd the various Mead with op'ning Flow'rs ; 
Upon This Tree the Nymph's obliging Care 
Had left a frequent Wreath for Henry's Hair : 
Which as with gay Delight the Lover found ; 
Pleas'd with his Conquest, with her Present crown'd. 
Glorious thro' all the Plains He oft had gone, 
And to each Swain the Mystic Honor shown ; 
The Gift still prais'd, the Giver still unknown. 

His secret Note the troubled Henry writes, 
To the known Tree the Lovely Maid invites : 
Imperfect Words and dubious Terms express. 
That unforeseen Mischance disturb'd his Peace ; 
That He must something to Her Ear commend. 
On which Her Conduit, and His Life depend. 



143 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Soon as the Fair one had the Note receiv'd ; 
The remnant of the Day alone She griev'd : 
For difF'rent This from ev'ry former Note, 
Which Venus dictated, and Henry wrote ; 
Which told her all his future Hopes were laid 
On the dear Bosom of his Nut-brown Maid ; 
Which always bless'd her Eyes, and own'd her Pow'r ; 
And bid her oft Adieu, yet added more. 

Now Night advancM. The House in Sleep were laid, 
The Nurse experienc'd, and the prying Maid ; 
And last That Sprite, which does incessant haunt 
The Lover's Steps, the ancient Maiden Aunt. 
To her dear Henrv Emma wings her Way, 
With quicken'd Pace repairing forc'd Delay. 
For Love, fantastic Pow'r, that is afraid 
To stir abroad 'till Watchfulness be laid ; 
Undaunted then, o'er Cliffs and Valleys strays ; 
And leads his Vot'ries safe thro' pathless Ways. 
Not Argus with his hundred Eyes shall find, 
Where Cupid goes ; tho' He poor Guide is blind. 

The Maiden first arriving, sent her Eye, 
To ask, if yet it's Chief Delight were nigh : 
With Fear, and with Desire, with Joy, and Pain 
She sees, and runs to meet Him on the Plain. 
But oh ! his Steps proclaim no Lover's Haste : 
On the low Ground his fix'd Regards are cast : 
His artful Bosom heaves dissembl'd Sighs ; 
And Tears suborn'd fall copious from his Eyes. 

With Ease, alas ! we Credit what we Love : 
His painted Grief does real Sorrow move 
Li the afflided Fair ; Adown her Cheek 
Trickling the genuine Tears their Current break. 
Attentive stood the mournful Nymph : the Man 
Broke Silence first: the Tale alternate ran. ' 

HENRT. 

SINCERE O tell me, hast thou felt a Pain, 
Emma, beyond what Woman knows to feign ? 
Has Thy uncertain Bosom ever strove 
With the first 'I'umults of a real Love ? 

H4 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Hast Thou now dreaded, and now blest his Sway ; 

By turns averse, and joyful to obey ? 

Thy Virgin Softness hast Thou e'er bewail'd. 

As Reason yielded, and as Love prevail'd ? 

And wept the potent God's resistless Dart, 

His killing Pleasure, his Ecstatic Smart, 

And heav'nly Poison thrilling thro' thy Heart ? 

If so, with Pity view my wretched State ; 

At least deplore, and then forget my Fate : 

To some more happy Knight reserve thy Charms, 

By Fortune favor'd, and successful Arms : 

And only, as the Sun's revolving Ray 

Brings back each Year this melancholy Day ; 

Permit one Sigh, and set apart one Tear, 

To an abandon'd Exile's endless Care. 

For Me, alas ! Out-cast of Human Race, 

Love's Anger only waits, and dire Disgrace : 

For lo ! these Hands in Murther are imbru'd ; 

These trembling Feet by Justice are pursu'd : 

Fate calls aloud, and hastens me away ; 

A shameful Death attends my longer Stay ; 

And I this Night must fly from Thee and Love, 

Condemn'd in lonely Woods a banish'd Man to rove. 

EMMA. 

What is our Bliss, that changeth with the Moon ; 
And Day of Life, that darkens e'er 'tis Noon ? 
What is true Passion, if unblest it dies ? 
And where is Emma's Joy, if Henry flies ? 
If Love, alas ! be Pain ; the Pain I bear, 
No Thought can figure, and no Tongue declare. 
Ne'er faithful Woman felt, nor false one feign'd 
The Flames, which long have in my Bosom reign'd : 
The God of Love himself inhabits there. 
With all his Rage, and Dread, and Grief, and Care, 
His Complement of Stores, and total War. 

O ! cease then coldly to suspeil my Love ; 
And let my Deed, at least, my Faith approve. 
Alas ! no Youth shall my Endearments share ; 
Nor Day nor Night shall interrupt my Care : 

P. K 145 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

No future Story shall with Truth upbraid 
The cold Indiff'rence of the Nut-brown Maid : 
Nor to hard Banishment shall Henry run ; 
While careless Emma sleeps on Beds of Down. 
View Me resolv'd, where-e'er Thou lead'st, to go, 
Friend to thy Pain, and Partner of thy Woe : 
For I attest fair Venus, and her Son, 
That I, of all Mankind, will love but Thee alone. 

HENRY. 

Let Prudence yet obstruct Thy vent'rous Way ; 
And take good heed, what Men will think and say ; 
That Beauteous Emma vagrant Courses took ; 
Her Father's House and civil Life forsook ; 
That full of youthful Blood, and fond of Man, 
She to the Wood-land with an Exile ran. 
Reflect, that lessen'd Fame is ne'er regain'd ; 
And Virgin Honor once, is always stain'd : 
Timely advis'd, the coming Evil shun : 
Better not do the Deed, than weep it done. 
No Penance can absolve our guilty Fame ; 
Nor Tears, that wash out Sin, can wash out Shame. 
Then fly the sad Effec^ts of desp'rate Love ; 
And leave a banish'd Man thro' lonely Woods to rove. 

EMMJ. 

Let Emma's hapless Case be falsely told 
By the rash Young, or the ill-natur'd Old : 
Let ev'ry Tongue it's various Censures chuse, 
Absolve with Coldness, or with Spight accuse : 
Fair Truth, at last, her radiant Beams will raise ; 
And Malice vanquish'd heightens Virtue's Praise. 
Let then thy Favour but indulge my Flight ; 
O ! let my Presence make thy Travels light ; 
And potent Venus shall exalt my Name 
Above the Rumors of censorious Fame : 
Nor from that busie Demon's restless Pow'r 
Will ever Emma other Grace implore. 
Than that this Truth should to the World be known, 
That I, of all Mankind, have lov'd but Thee alone. 

146 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

HENRY. 

But canst Thou wield the Sword, and bend the Bow ? 
With a6live Force repel the sturdy Foe ? 
When the loud Tumult speaks the Battel nigh, 
And winged Deaths in whistling Arrows fly ; 
Wilt Thou, tho' wounded, yet undaunted stay, 
Perform thy Part, and share the dangerous Day ? 
Then, as thy Strength decays, thy Heart will fail ; 
Thy Limbs all trembling, and thy Cheeks all pale : 
With fruitless Sorrow Thou, inglorious Maid, 
Wilt weep thy Safety by thy Love betray 'd : 
Then to thy Friend, by Foes o'er-charg'd, deny 
Thy little useless Aid, and Coward fly : 
Then wilt thou curse the Chance that made Thee love 
A banish'd Man, condemn'd in lonely Woods to rove. 

EMMA. 

With fatal Certainty Thalestris knew 
To send the Arrow from the twanging Yew : 
And great in Arms, and foremost in the War, 
BoNDUCA brandished high the British Spear. 
Could Thirst of Vengeance, and Desire of Fame 
Excite the Female Breast with Martial Flame ? 
And shall not Love's diviner Pow'r inspire 
More hardy Virtue, and more gen'rous Fire ? 

Near Thee, mistrust not, constant I'll abide, 
And fall, or vanquish, fighting by thy Side. 
Tho' my Inferior Strength may not allow. 
That I should bear, or draw the Warrior Bow ; 
With ready Hand I will the Shaft supply. 
And joy to see thy Viftor Arrows fly. 
Touch'd in the Battel by the Hostile Reed, 
Should'st Thou (but Heav'n avert it !) should'st Thou bleed ; 
To stop the Wounds my finest Lawn Fd tear ; 
Wash them with Tears, and wipe them with my Hair : 
Blest, when my Dangers and my Toils have shown. 
That I, of all Mankind, could love but Thee alone. 

HENRT. 

But canst Thou, tender Maid, canst Thou sustain 
Afflictive Want, or Hunger's pressing Pain ? 

K 2 147 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Those Limbs, in Lawn and softest Silk array'd, 

From Sun-beams guarded, and of Winds afraid ; 

Can they bear angry Jove ? Can they resist 

The parching Dog-star, and the bleak North-East ? 

When chill'd" by adverse Snows, and beating Rain, 

We tread with weary Steps the longsome Plain ; 

When with hard Toil We seek our Ev'ning Food, 

Berries and Acorns, from the neighb'ring Wood ; 

And find among the ClifFs no other House, 

But the thin Covert of some gather'd Boughs ; 

Wilt Thou not then reluftant send thine Eye 

Around the dreary Waste ; and weeping try 

(Tho' then, alas ! that Tryal be too late) '\ 

To find thy Father's Hospitable Gate, Y 

And Seats, where Ease and Plenty brooding sate? J 

Those Seats, whence long excluded Thou must mourn : 

That Gate, for ever barr'd to thy Return : 

Wilt Thou not then bewail ill-fated Love, 

And hate a banish'd Man, condemn'd in Woods to rove? 

EMMJ. 

Thy Rise of Fortune did I only wed, 
From it's Decline determin'd to recede? 
Did I but purpose to embark with Thee, 
On the smooth Surface of a Summer's Sea ; 
While gentle Zephyrs play in prosp'rous^ Gales ; 
And Fortune's Favour fills the swelling Sails : 
But would forsake the Ship, and make the Shoar, 
When the Winds whistle, and the Tempests roar? 
No, Henry, no: One Sacred Oath has ty'd ^ 

Our Loves ; One Destiny our Life shall guide ; r 

Nor Wild, nor Deep our common Way divide. J 

When from the Cave Thou risest with the Day, 
To beat the Woods, and rouse the bounding Prey; 
The Cave with Moss and Branches FU adorn. 
And chearful sit, to wait my Lord's Return. 
And when Thou frequent bring'st the smitten Deer; 
(For seldom, Archers say. Thy Arrows err) 
ril fetch quick Fewel from the neighb'ring Wood, 
And strike the sparkling Flint, and dress the Food : 

148 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

With humble Duty and officious Haste, 

I'll cull the furthest Mead for Thy Repast : 

The choicest Herbs I to Thy Board will bring ; 

And draw Thy Water from the freshest Spring : 

And when at Night with weary Toil opprest, 

Soft Slumbers Thou injoy'st, and wholesome Rest ; 

Watchful I'll guard Thee, and with Midnight Pray'r 

Weary the Gods to keep Thee in their Care ; 

And joyous ask, at Morn's returning Ray, 

If Thou hast Health, and I may bless the Day. 

My Thought shall fix, my latest Wish depend 

On Thee, Guide, Guardian, Kinsman, Father, Friend : 

By all these sacred Names be Henry known 

To Emma's Heart : and grateful let Him own. 

That She, of all Mankind, could love but Him alone. 

HENRT. 
Vainly thou tell'st Me, what the Woman's Care 
Shall in the Wildness of the Wood prepare : 
Thou, e'er thou goest, unhapp'yest of thy Kind, 
Must leave the Habit, and the Sex behind. 
No longer shall thy comely Tresses break 
In flowing Ringlets on thy snowy Neck ; 
Or sit behind thy Head, an ample Round, 
In graceful Breeds with various Ribbon bound : 
No longer shall the Boddice, aptly lac'd. 
From thy full Bosome to thy slender Waste, 
That Air and Harmony of Shape express, 
Fine by Degrees, and beautifully less : 
Nor shall thy lower Garments artful Pleat, 
From thy fair Side dependent to thy Feet, 
Arm their chaste Beauties with a modest Pride, 
And double ev'ry Charm they seek to hide. 
Th'Ambrosial Plenty of Thy shining Hair 
Cropt ofF and lost, scarce lower than Thy Ear 
Shall stand uncouth : a Horse-man's Coat shall hide 
Thy taper Shape, and Comeliness of Side : 
The short Trunk-Hose shall show Thy Foot and Knee 
Licentious, and to common Eye-sight free : 
And with a bolder Stride, and looser Air, 
Mingl'd with Men, a Man Thou must appear. 

149 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Nor Solitude, nor gentle Peace of Mind, 
Mistaken Maid, shalt Thou in Forests find : 
'Tis long, since Cynthia and her Train were there ; 
Or Guardian Gods made Innocence their Care. 
Vagrants and Out-laws shall oftend Thy View ; 
For such must be my Friends ; a hideous Crew, 
By adverse Fortune mix'd in Social 111, 
Train'd to assault, and disciplin'd to kill : 
Their common Loves, a lewd abandon'd Pack, 
The Beadle's Lash still flagrant on their Back ; 
By Sloth corrupted, by Disorder fed, 
Made bold by Want, and prostitute for Bread : 
With such must Emma hunt the tedious Day, 
Assist their Violence, and divide their Prey : 
With such She must return at setting Light, 
Tho' not Partaker, Witness of their Night. 
Thy Ear, inur'd to charitable Sounds, 
And pitying Love, must feel the hateful Wounds 
Of Jest obscene, and vulgar Ribaldry, 
The ill-bred Qiiestion, and the lewd Reply; 
Brought by long Habitude from Bad to Worse, 
Must hear the frequent Oath, the direful Curse, 
That latest Weapon of the Wretches War, 
And Blasphemy, sad Comrade of Despair. 

Now, Emma, now the last Reflec^tion make. 
What Thou would'st follow, what Thou must forsake : 
By our ill-omen'd Stars, and adverse Heav'n, 
No middle Objed\ to thy Choice is given. 
Or yield thy Virtue, to attain thy Love; 
Or leave a banish'd Man, condemn'd in Woods to rove. 

EMMA. 
O Grief of Heart ! that our unhappy Fates 
Force Thee to suffer what thy Honor hates : 
Mix Thee amongst the Bad ; or make Thee run 
Too near the Paths, which Virtue bids Thee shun. 
Yet with her Henry still let Emma go ; 
With Him abhor the Vice, but share the Woe : 
And sure My little Heart can never err 
Amidst the worst ; if Henry still be there. 

150 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Our outward A61 is prompted from within ; 
And from the Sinner's Mind proceeds the Sin : 
By her own Choice free Virtue is approv'd ; 
Nor by the Force of outward Objefts mov'd. 
Who has assay'd no Danger, gains no Praise. 
In a small Isle, amidst the widest Seas, 
Triumphant Constancy has fixM her Seat : 
In vain the Syrens sing, the Tempests beat : 
Their Flatt'ry She rejects, nor fears their Threat. 

For Thee alone these little Charms I drest ; 
Condemn 'd them, or absolv'd them by thy Test. 
In comely Figure rang'd, my Jewels shone, 
Or negligently plac'd, for Thee alone : 
For Thee again they shall be laid aside : 
The Woman, Henry, shall put off her Pride 
For Thee : my Cloaths, my Sex exchang'd for Thee, 
I'll mingle with the People's wretched Lee ; 
O Line extream of human Infamy ! 
Wanting the Scissors, with these Hands I'll tear 
(If that obstru(^ts my Flight) this load of Hair. 
Black Soot, or yellow Walnut shall disgrace 
This little Red and White of Emma's Face. 
These Nails with Scratches shall deform my Breast, 
Lest by my Look, or Color be express'd 
The Mark of ought High-born, or ever better dress'd. 
Yet in this Commerce, under this Disguise, 
Let Me be grateful still to Henry's Eyes. 
Lost to the World, let Me to Him be known : 
My Fate I can absolve ; if He shall own, 
That leaving all Mankind, I love but Him alone. 

HENRT. 

O wildest Thought of an abandon'd Mind I 
Name, Habit, Parents, Woman left behind, 
Ev'n Honor dubious. Thou preferr'st to go 
Wild to the Woods with Me : Said Emma so ? 
Or did I dream what Emma never said ? 
O guilty Error ! and O wretched Maid ! 



151 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Whose roving Fancy would resolve the same \ 

With Him, who next should tempt her easie Fame ; > 

And blow with empty Words the susceptible Flame. ) 

Now why should doubtful Terms thy Mind perplex r 

Confess thy Frailty, and avow the Sex : 

No longer loose Desire for constant Love 

Mistake ; but say, 'tis Man, with whom Thou long'st to rove. 

EMMJ. 

Are there not Poisons, Racks, and Flames, and Swords ; 
That Emma thus must die by Henry's Words ? 
Yet what could Swords or Poison, Racks or Flame, \ 

But mangle and disjoint this brittle Frame ? I 

More fatal Henry's Words ; they murder Emma's Fame, j 

And fall these Sayings from that gentle Tongue, 
Where civil Speech, and soft Persuasion hung ; 
Whose artful Sweetness and harmonious Strain, 
Courting my Grace, yet courting it in vain, 
Call'd Sighs, and Tears, and Wishes to it's Aid ; \ 

And, whilst it Henry's glowing Flame convey 'd, \. 

Still blam'd the Coldness of the Nut-brown Maid ? ) 

Let envious Jealousie, and canker'd Spight | 

Produce my Action to severest Light, > 

And tax my open Day, or secret Night. ) 

Did e'er my Tongue speak my unguarded Heart 
The least inclin'd to play the Wanton's Part ? 
Did e'er my Eye One inward Thought reveal, 
Which Angels might not hear, and Virgins tell ? 
And hast Thou, Henry, in my Condudl known \ 

One Fault, but That which I must ever own, I 

That I, of all Mankind, have lov'd but Thee alone .'' ) 

HENRY. 

Vainly thou talk'st of loving Mc alone : 
Each Man is Man ; and all Our Sex is One. 
False are our Words ; and fickle is our Mind : \ 

Nor in Love's Ritual can We ever find K 

Vows made to last, or Promises to bind. j 

152 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

By Nature prompted, and for Empire made, 
Alike by Strength or Cunning We invade : 
When arm'd with Rage We march against the Foe ; 
We h'ft the Battel- Ax, and draw the Bow : 
When fir'd with Passion We attack the Fair ; 
Delusive Sighs and brittle Vows We bear : 
Our Falshood and our Arms have equal Use ; 
As they our Conquest, or Delight produce. 

The foolish Heart Thou gav'st, again receive, 
The only Boon departing Love can give. 
To be less Wretched, be no longer True : 
What strives to fly Thee, why should'st Thou pursue ? 
Forget the Present Flame, indulge a New. 
Single the loveliest of the am'rous Youth ; 
Ask for his Vow ; but hope not for his Truth. 
The next Man (and the. next Thou shalt believe) 
Will pawn his Gods, intending to deceive ; 
Will kneel, implore, persist, o'ercome, and leave. 
Hence let Thy Cupid aim his Arrows right ; 
Be Wise and False, shun Trouble, seek Delight, 
Change Thou the first, nor wait Thy Lover's Flight. 

Why should'st Thou weep? let Nature judge our Case 
I saw Thee Young, and Fair ; pursu'd the Chase 
Of Youth, and Beauty : I another saw 
Fairer, and Younger : yielding to the Law 
Of our all-ruling Mother, I pursu'd 
More Youth, more Beauty : Blest Vicissitude ! 
My active Heart still keeps it's pristine Flame ; 
The Objeil alter'd, the Desire the same. 

This Younger Fairer pleads her rightful Charms : 
With present Power compels me to her Arms. 
And much I fear, from my subjected Mind 
(If Beauty's Force to constant Love can bind) 
That Years may roll, e'er in Her turn the Maid 
Shall weep the Fury of my Love decay'd ; 
And weeping follow Me, as Thou dost now, 
With idle Clamours of a broken Vow. 



153 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Nor can the wildness of thy Wishes err 
So wide, to hope that Thou may'st live with Her. 
Love, well Thou know'st, no Partnership allows : 
Cupid averse rejedts divided Vows. 
Then from tliy foolish Heart, vain Maid, remove 
A useless Sorrow, and an ill-starr'd Love ; 
And leave me, with the Fair, at large in Woods to rove. 

EMMA. 

Are we in Life thro' one great Error led ? 
Is each Man perjur'd, and each Nymph betray'd ? 
Of the Superior Sex art Thou the worst ? 
Am I of Mine the most compleatly Curst ? 
Yet let me go with Thee ; and going prove, 
From what I will endure, how much 1 love. 

This potent Beauty, this Triumphant Fair, 
This happy Objeft of our diff'rent Care, 
Her let me follow ; Her let me attend, 
A Servant : (She may scorn the Name of Friend.) 
What She demands, incessant I'll prepare : 
I'll weave Her Garlands ; and I'll pleat Her Hair : 
My busie Diligence shall deck Her Board ; 
(For there, at least, I may approach my Lord.) 
And when Her Henry's softer Hours advise 
His Servant's Absence ; with dejefted Eyes 
Far I'll recede, and Sighs forbid to rise. 

Yet when encreasing Grief brings slow Disease ; 
And ebbing Life, on Terms severe as these, 
Will have it's little Lamp no longer fed ; 
When HENR-i's Mistress shows him Emma dead ; 
Rescue my poor Remains from vile Negledt : 
With Virgin Honors let my Herse be deckt. 
And decent Emblem ; and at least persuade 
This happy Nymph, that Emma may be laid. 
Where Thou, dear Author of my Death, where She 
With frequent Eye my Sepulchre may see. 
The Nymph amidst her Joys may haply breath 
One pious Sigh, refledting on my Death, 
And the sad Fate which She may one Day prove, 
Who hopes from Henry's Vows Eternal Love. 

154 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And Thou forsworn, Thou cruel, as Thou art. 

If Emma's Image ever touch'd thy Heart ; 

Thou sure must give one Thought, and drop one Tear 

To Her, whom Love abandon'd to Despair; 

To Her, who dying, on the wounded Stone 

Bid it in lasting Charac^ters be known. 

That, of Mankind, She lov'd but Thee alone. 

HENRT. 

Hear, solemn Jove ; and, conscious Venus, hear; 
And Thou, bright Maid, believe Me, whilst I swear; 
No Time, no Change, no future Flame shall move 
The well-plac'd Basis of my lasting Love. 
O Powerful Virtue ! O Vidlorious Fair ! J 

At least excuse a Tryal too severe : V 

Receive the Triumph, and forget the War. ) 

No banish'd Man, condemn'd in Woods to rove, 
Intreats thy Pardon, and implores thy Love : 
No perjur'd Knight desires to quit thy Arms, 
Fairest Colleilion of thy Sexe's Charms, 
Crown of my Love, and Honor of my Youth : 
Henry, thy Henry with Eternal Truth, 
As Thou may'st wish, shall all his Life imploy. 
And found his Glory in his Emma's Joy. 

In Me behold the Potent Edgar's Heir, 
Illustrious Earl : Him terrible in War 
Let LoYRE confess ; for She has felt His Sword, 
And trembling fled before the British Lord. 
Him great in Peace and Wealth fair Deva knows ; 
For she amidst his spacious Meadows flows ; 
Inclines her Urn upon his fatten'd Lands ; 
And sees his num'rous Herd imprint her Sands. 

And Thou, my Fair, my Dove, shalt raise thy Thought 
To Greatness next to Empire ; shalt be brought 
With solemn Pomp to my Paternal Seat ; 
Where Peace and Plenty on Thy Word shall wait. 
Music and Song shall wake the Marriage-Day : \ 

And while the Priests accuse the Bride's Delay ; \ 

Myrtles and Roses shall obstruct Her Way. ) 

155 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Friendship shall still Thy Evening Feasts adorn ; 
And blooming Peace shall ever bless Thy Morn. 
Succeeding Years their happy Race shall run ; 
And Age unheeded by Delight come on ; 
While yet Superior Love shall mock his Pow'r : 
And when old Time shall turn the fated Hour, 
Which only can our well-ty'd Knot unfold, 
What rests of Both, One Sepulchre shall hold. 

Hence then, for ever, from my Emma's Breast 
(That Heav'n of Softness, and that Seat of Rest) 
Ye Doubts and Fears, and All that know to move 
Tormenting Grief, and All that trouble Love, 
Scatter'd by Winds recede, and wild in Forests rove. 

EMMA. 

O Day the fairest sure that ever rose ! 
Period and End of anxious Emma's Woes ! 
Sire of her Joy, and Sovuce of her Delight ; 
O ! wing'd with Pleasure take thy happy Flight, 
And give each future Morn a Tinc^ture of thy White. 
Yet tell thy Votary, potent Queen of Love, 
Henry, my Henrv, will He never rove ? 
Will He be ever Kind, and Just, and Good \ 
And is there yet no Mistress in the Wood ? 
None, none there is : The Thought was rash and vain 
A false Idea, and a fancy 'd Pain. 
Doubt shall for ever quit my strengthen'd Heart, 
And anxious Jealousie's corroding Smart ; 
Nor other Inmate shall inhabit there. 
But soft Belief, young Joy, and pleasing Care. 

Hence let the Tides of Plenty ebb and flow. 
And Fortune's various Gale unheeded blow. 
If at my Feet the Suppliant Goddess stands, 
And sheds her Treasure with unweary'd Hands ; 
Her present Favor cautious I'll embrace, 
And not unthankful use the proffer'd Grace : 
If She reclaims the Temporary Boon, 
And tries her Pinions, flutt'ring to be gone j 

156 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Secure of Mind I'll obviate her Intent, 
And unconcern'd return the Goods She lent. 
Nor Happiness can I, nor Misery feel, 
From any Turn of her Fantastic Wheel : 
Friendship's great Laws, and Love's superior Pow'rs 
Must mark the Colour of my future Hours. 
From the Events which Thy Commands create 
I must my Blessings or my Sorrows date ; 
And Henry's Will must diftate Emma's Fate. 

Yet while with close Delight and inward Pride 
(Which from the World my careful Soul shall hide) 
I see Thee, Lord and End of my Desire, 
Exalted high as Virtue can reqviire ; 
With Pow'r invested, and with Pleasure chear'd ; 
Sought by the Good, by the Oppressor fear'd ; 
Loaded and blest with all the affluent Store, 
Which human Vows at smoaking Shrines implore; 
Grateful and humble grant Me to employ 
My Life, subservient only to thy Joy ; 
And at my Death to bless thy Kindness shown 
To Her, who of Mankind could love but Thee alone. 

WHILE thus the constant Pair alternate said. 
Joyful above them and around them play'd 
Angels and sportive Loves, a numerous Crowd ; 
Smiling They clapt their Wings, and low They bow'd : 
They tumbled all their little Qiiivers o'er. 
To chuse propitious Shafts ; a precious Store : 
That when their God should take his future Darts, 
To strike (however rarely) constant Hearts, 
His happy Skill might proper Arms imploy. 
All tipt with Pleasure, and all wing'd with Joy : 
And Those, They vow'd, whose Lives should imitate 
These Lovers Constancy, should share their Fate. 

The Queen of Beauty stop'd her bridled Doves ; 
Approv'd the little Labour of the Loves ; 
Was proud and pleas'd the mutual Vow to hear ; 
And to the Triumph call'd the God of War : 
Soon as She calls, the God is always near. 



157 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Now Mars, she said, let Fame exalt her Voice ; 
Nor let thy Conquests only be her Choice : 
But when She sings great Edward from the Field 
Return'd, the Hostile Spear and Captive Shield 
In Concord's Temple hung, and Gallia taught to yield. 
And when, as prudent Saturn shall compleat 
The Years design 'd to perfect Brlfain's State, 
The swift-wing'd Power shall take her Trump again. 
To sing Her Fav'rite Anna's wond'rous Reign ; 
To recolleft unweary'd Marlbro's Toils, 
Old RuFUs' Hall unequal to his Spoils ; 
The British Soldier from his high Command 
Glorious, and Gaul thrice Vanquish'd by his Hand : 
Let Her at least perform what I desire ; 
With second Breath the Vocal Brass inspire : 
And tell the Nations in no Vulgar Strain, 
What Wars I manage, and what Wreaths I gain. 

And when Thy Tumults and Thy Fights are past. 
And when Thy Lawrels at my Feet are cast ; 
Faithful may'st Thou like British Henr^' prove. 
And EMMA-like let me return Thy Love. 

Renown'd for Truth let all Thy Sons appear ; 
And constant Beauty shall reward their Care. 

Mars smil'd, and bow'd ; the Cyprian Deity 
Turn'd to the glorious Ruler of the Sky : 
And Thou, She smiling said. Great God of Days 
And Verse, behold my Deed ; and sing my Praise. 
As on the British Earth, my Fav'rite Isle, 
Thy gentle Rays and kindest Influence smile, 
Thro' all her laughing Fields and verdant Groves, 
Proclaim with Joy these memorable Loves. 
From ev'ry annual Course let One great Day, 
To celebrated Sports and Floral Play 
Be set aside ; and, in the softest Lays 
Of Thy Poetic Sons, be solemn Praise, 
And everlasting Marks of Honour paid. 
To thf true Lover ^ and the Nut-brown Maid. 

158 



AN 

ODE, 

Humbly Inscrib'd to the 

QUEEN. 

ON THE 

Glorious Success 

OF 

Her MAJESTY'S Arms, 
1706. 

Written in Imitation of Spencer's Style. 



Te non paventis funera Gallias, 

Dur^que tellus audit Iberias : 

Te c^ede gaudentes Sicambri 

Compositis venerantur Armis.. Hor. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
THE 

PREFACE. 



WHEN I first thought of IVriting upon this Occasion^ I found 
the Ideas so great and numerous^ that I judgd them more 
proper for the JVarmth of an Ode, than for any other sort of 
Poetry : I therefore set Horace before Me for a Pattern^ and 
particularly his famous Ode, the Fourth of the Fourth Book^ 

Qualcm ministrum fulminis Alitem, &c. 
which He wrote in Praise of Drusus after his Expedition into 
Germany, and of Augustus upon his happy Choice of That 
General. And in the following Poem, tho^ I have endeavored to 
imitate all the great Strokes of that Ode, / have taken the Liberty 
to go off" from it^ and to add variously^ as the SuhjeSl and my own 
Imagination carry d Me. As to the Style^ the Choice I made of 

following the Ode in Latin, determin''d Me in English to the 
Stanza ; and herein it tvas impossible not to have a Mind to 

follow our great Countryman Spencer ; which I have done (as 
well at least as I could) in the Manner of my Expression^ and the 
Turn of my Number : Having only added one Verse to his Stanza^ 
which 1 thought made the Number more Harmonious ; and avoided 
such of his JVords^ as I found too obsolete. I have however retain d 
soine feiv of them., to make the Colouring look more like Spencer'^ ; 
Behest, Command; Band, Artny; Prowess, Strength; I weet, 
/ know; I ween, / think; whilom, heretofore; and Tzvo or Three 
more of that Kind., which I hope the Ladies will pardon wf, and 
not judge my MusE less handsome., though for once she appears in 
a Farthingal. I have also., in Spencer'^ Manner^ used Caesar 

for the Emperor., Boya for Bavaria, Bavar for that Prince^ Ister 

for Danube, Iberia for Spain, l^c. 

That noble Part of the Ode which I just now mention d^ 
Gens, quae creniato Fortis ab Ilio 
Jadlata Tuscis aequoribus, ^V. 

1 60 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

where Horace praises the Romans, as being descended from 
^NEAS, / have turned to the Honor of the British Nation^ 
descended from Brute, likewise a Trojan. That this Brute, 
Fourth or Fifth from tEneas, settled in England, and built 
London, which he caWd Troja Nova, or Troynovante, is 
a Story which (/ think) owes ifs Original^ if not to Geoffry of 
Monmouth, at least to the Monkish Writers \ yet is not reje£ied 
by Our great Camden, and is told by Milton, as if {at least) He 
was pleas' d with it ; though possibly He does not believe it : 
However it carries a Poetical Authority^ which is sufficient for 
our Purpose. It is as certain that Brute came into England, 
as that ^neas zvent into Italy j and upon the Supposition of these 
FaSfs., Virgil zvrote the best Poem that the World ever read^ 
and Spencer paid ^leen Elizabeth the greatest Co?npUment. 

I need not obviate one piece of Criticism^ that I bring my Hero 
From burning Troy, and Xanthus red with Blood : 
whereas He was not born., when that City was destroyed. 
Virgil, in the Case of His otvn tineas relating to Dido, will 
stand as a sufficient Proof that a Man in his Poetical Capacity is 
not accountable for a little Fault in Chronology. 

My Two Great Examples., Horace and Spenser, in many 
Things resemble each other : Both have a Height of Imagination^ 
and a Majesty of Expression in describing the Sublime ; and Both 
know to temper those Talents., and stveeten the Description^ so as to 
make it Lovely as well as Pompous : Both have equally That 
agreeable Manner of ynixing Morality with their Story ^ and That 
Curiosa Felicitas in the Choice of their Didion., which every 
Writer aims at^ and so very few have reached : Both are particularly 
Fine in their Images., and Knowing in their Numbers. Leaving 
therefore our Two Masters to the Consideration and Study of Those., 
who design to Excel in Poetry^ I only beg Leave to add.. That it is 
long since I have (or at least ought to have) quitted Parnassus, and 
all the fow^ry Roads on that Side the Country ; tho" I thought my 
self indispensably obliged., upon the present Occasion., to take a little 
journey into Those Parts. 



P. L i6i 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

AN 

ODE, 

Humbly Inscrib'd to the 

QUEEN. 
I. 

WHEN Great Augustus govern'd Antient Rome, 
And sent his Conqu'ring Bands to Foreign Wars ; 
Abroad when Dreaded, and Belov'd at Home, 
He saw his Fame encreasing with his Years ; 
Horace, Great Bard (so Fate ordain'd) arose ; 
And Bold, as were his Countrymen in Fight, 
Snatch'd their fair Actions from degrading Prose, 
And set their Battels in Eternal Light : 
High as their Trumpets Tune His Lyre he strung ; 
And with his Prince's Arms He moraliz'd his Song. 

IL 
When bright Eliza rul'd Britannia's State, 
Widely distributing Her high Commands ; 
And boldly Wise, and fortunately Great, 
Freed the glad Nations from Tyrannick Bands ; 
An equal Genius was in Spenser found : 
To the high Theme He match'd his Noble Lays : 
He travell'd England o'er on Fairy Ground, 
In Mystic Notes to Sing his Monarch's Praise : 
Reciting wond'rous Truths in pleasing Dreams, 
He deck'd Eliza's Head with Gloriana's Beams. 

HI. 
But, Greatest Anna ! while Thy Arms pursue 
Paths of Renown, and climb Ascents of Fame, 
Which nor Augustus, nor Eliza knew ; 
What Poet shall be found to sing Thy Name ? 
What Numbers shall record, what Tongue shall say 
Thy Wars on Land, Thy Triumphs on the Main ? 
162 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

O Fairest Model of Imperial Sway ! 
What Equal Pen shall write Thy wond'rous Reign ? 
Who shall Attempts and Feats of Arms rehearse, 
Not yet by Story told, nor parallel'd by Verse ? 

IV. 

Me all too mean for such a Task I weet : 
Yet if the Sovereign Lady deigns to Smile, 
I'll follow Horace with impetuous Heat, 
And cloath the Verse in Spenser's Native Style. 
By these Examples rightly taught to sing, 
And Smit with Pleasure of my Country's Praise, 
Stretching the Plumes of an uncommon Wing, 
High as Olympus I my Flight will raise : 
And latest Times shall in my Numbers read 
Anna's Immortal Fame, and Marlbro's hardy Deed. 

V. 

As the strong Eagle in the silent Wood, 
Mindless of warlike Rage, and hostile Care, 
Plays round the rocky Cliff, or crystal Flood ; 
'Till by Jove's high Behests call'd out to War, 
And charg'd with Thunder of his angry King, 
His Bosom with the vengeful Message glows : 
Upward the Noble Bird dire6ls his Wing ; 
And tow'ring round his Master's Earth-born Foes, 
Swift He coUefts his fatal Stock of Ire ; 
Lifts his fierce Talon high, and darts the forked Fire. 

VI. 

Sedate and calm thus Vi6lor Marlbro sate. 
Shaded with Laurels, in his Native Land ; 
'Till Anna calls Him from his soft Retreat, 
And gives Her Second Thunder to his Hand. 
Then leaving sweet Repose, and gentle Ease, 
With ardent Speed He seeks the distant Foe : 
Marching o'er Hills and Vales, o'er Rocks and Seas, 
He meditates, and strikes the wond'rous Blow. 
Our Thought flies slower than Our General's Fame : 
Grasps He the Bolt? (We ask) when He has hurl'd the Flame. 

L 2 163 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

VII. 

When fierce Bavar on Judoign's spacious Plain 
Did from afar the British Chief behold ; 
Betwixt Despair, and Rage, and Hope, and Pain, 
Something within his warring Bosom roll'd : 
He views that Fav'rite of Indulgent Fame, 
Whom whilom He had met on Ister's Shoar : 
Too well, alas ! the Man He knows the same. 
Whose Prowess there repell'd the Boyan Pow'r ; 
And sent Them trembling thro' the frighted Lands, 
Swift as the Whirlwind drives Arabia's scatter'd Sands. 

vni. 

His former Losses He forgets to grieve ; 
Absolves his Fate, if with a kinder Ray 
It now would shine, and only give Him leave 
To Balance the Account of Blenheim's Day. 
So the fell Lion in the lonely Glade, 
His Side still smarting with the Hunter's Spear, 
Tho' deeply wounded, no way yet dismay 'd. 
Roars terrible, and meditates new War ; 
In sullen Fury traverses the Plain, 
To find the vent'rous Foe, and Battel Him again. 

IX. 
Misguided Prince ! no longer urge Thy Fate, 
Nor tempt the Hero to unequal War ; 
Fam'd in Misfortune, and in Ruin Great, 
Confess the Force of Marlbro's stronger Star. 
Those Laurel Groves (the Merits of thy Youth) 
Which Thou from Mahomet didst greatly gain, 
While bold Assertor of resistless Truth, 
Thy Sword did Godlike Liberty maintain. 
Must from thy Brow their falling Honors shed ; 
And their transplanted Wreaths must deck a worthier Head. 

X. 

Yet cease the Ways of Providence to blame. 
And Human Faults with Human Grief confess : 
'Tis Thou art chang'd ; while Heav'n is still the same : 
From Thy ill Councils date Thy ill Success. 

164 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Impartial Justice holds Her equal Scales ; 

'Till stronger Virtue does the Weight incline : 

If over Thee thy glorious Foe prevails ; 

He now Defends the Cause, that once was Thine. 

Righteous the War, the Champion shall subdue ; 

For Jove's great Handmaid Power, must Jove's Decrees pursue. 

XI. 

Hark ! the dire Trumpets sound their shrill Alarms : 
Auverquerque, branch'd from the renown'd Nassaws, 
Hoary in War, and bent beneath his Arms, 
His Glorious Sword with Dauntless Courage draws. 
When anxious Britain mourn 'd her parting Lord, 
And all of William that was Mortal Dy'd ; 
The faithful Hero had receiv'd This Sword 
From His expiring Master's much-lov'd Side. 
Oft from it's fatal Ire has Louis flown, 
Where-e'er Great William led, or Maese and Sambre run. 

xn. 

But brandish'd high, in an ill-omen'd Hour 
To Thee, proud Gaul, behold thy justest Fear, 
The Master Sword, Disposer of thy Power : 
'Tis That which Caesar gave the British Peer. 
He took the Gift : Nor ever will I sheath 
This Steel, (so Anna's high Behests ordain) 
The General said, unless by Glorious Death 
Absolv'd, 'till Conquest has confirm'd Your Reign. 
Returns like these Our Mistress bids us make, 
When from a Foreign Prince a Gift Her Britons take. 

XIII. 

And now fierce Gallia rushes on her Foes, 
Her Force augmented by the Bo\ an Bands : 
So Volga's Stream, increas'd by Mountain Snows, 
Rolls with new Fury down thro' Russia's Lands. 
Like two great Rocks against the raging Tide, 
(If Virtue's Force with Nature's We compare) 
Unmov'd the Two imited Chiefs abide. 
Sustain the Impulse, and receive the War. 
Round their firm Sides in vain the Tempest beats ; 
And still the foaming Wave with lessen'd Pow'r retreats. 

165 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XIV. 
The Rage dispers'd, the Glorious Pair advance, 
With mingl'd Anger, and colledled Might, 
To turn the War, and tell aggressing France, 
How Britain's Sons and Britain's P>iends can light. 
On Conquest fix'd, and covetous of Fame, 
Behold Fhem rushing thro' the Gallic Host. 
Thro' standing Corn so runs the sudden Flame, 
Or Eastern Winds along Sicilia's Coast. 
They deal their Terrors to the adverse Nation : 
Pale Death attends their Arms, and ghastly Desolation. 

XV. 

But while with fiercest Ire Bellona glows. 
And Europe rather Hopes than Fears Her Fate ; 
While Britain presses Her afflifted Foes ; 
What Horror damps the Strong, and quells the Great ? 
Whence look the Soldiers Cheeks dismay 'd and pale ? 
Erst ever dreadful, know They now to dread .'' 
The Hostile Troops, I ween, almost prevail ; 
And the Pursuers only not recede. 
Alas ! their lessen'd Rage proclaims their Grief! 
For anxious, lo ! They croud around their falling Chief! 

XVI. 
I thank Thee, Fate, exclaims the fierce Bavar ; 
Let Boya's Trumpet grateful Jo's sound : 

I saw Him fall, their Thunderbolt of War : 

Ever to Vengeance sacred be the Ground 

Vain Wish ! short Joy ! the Hero mounts again 

In greater Glory, and with fuller Light : 

The Ev'ning Star so falls into the Main, 

To rise at Morn more prevalently bright. 

He rises safe : but near, too near his Side, 

A good Man's grievous Loss, a faithful Servant dy'd. 

XVII. 

Propitious Mars ! the Battel is regain'd : 
The Foe with lessen'd Wrath disputes the Field : 
The Briton fights, by fav'ring Gods sustain'd : 
Freedom must live ; and lawless Power must yield. 

i66 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Vain now the Tales which fab'Iing Poets tell, 

That wav'ring Conquest still desires to rove ! 

In Marlbro's Camp the Goddess knows to dwell : 

Long as the Hero's Life remains her Love. 

Again France flies : again the Duke pursues : 

And on Ramjllia's Plains He Blenheim's Fame renews. 

XVIIL 
Great Thanks, O Captain great in Arms ! receive 
From thy Triumphant Country's public Voice : 
Thy Country greater Thanks can only give 
To Anne, to Her who made those Arms Her Choice. 
Recording Schellenberg's, and Blenheim's Toils, 
We dreaded lest Thou should'st those Toils repeat : 
We view'd the Palace charg'd with Gallic Spoils ; 
And in those Spoils We thought thy Praise compleat : 
For never Greek, We deem'd, nor Roman Knight, 
In Chara6lers like these did e'er his A6ls indite. 

XIX. 
Yet mindless still of Ease, Thy Virtue flies 
A Pitch to Old and Modern Times unknown : 
Those goodly Deeds which We so highly prize, 
Imperfect seem, great Chief, to Thee alone. 
Those Heights, where William's Virtue might have staid. 
And on the Subject World look'd safely down. 
By Marlbro pass'd, the Props and Steps were made, 
Sublimer yet to raise his Queen's Renown : 
Still gaining more, still slighting what He gain'd. 
Nought done the Hero deem'd, while ought undone remain'd. 

XX. 

When swift-wing'd Rumor told the mighty Gaul, 
How lessen'd from the Field Bavar was fled ; 
He wept the Swiftness of the Champion's Fall ; 
And thus the Royal Treaty-Breaker said : 
And lives He yet, the Great, the Lost Bavar, 
Ruin to Gallia, in the Name of Friend ? 
Tell Me, how far has Fortune been severe ? 
Has the Foe's Glory, or our Grief an End ? 
Remains there, of the Fifty Thousand lost. 
To save our threaten'd Realm, or guard our shatter'd Coast ? 

167 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XXI. 
To the close Rock the frighted Raven flies, 
Soon as the rising Eagle cuts the Air : 
The shaggy Wolf unseen and trembling lyes, 
When the hoarse Roar proclaims the Lion near. 
Ill-starr'd did We our Forts and Lines forsake, 
To dare our British Foes to open Fight : 
Our Conquest We by Stratagem should make : 
Our Triumph had been founded in our Flight. 
'Tis Our's, by Craft and by Surprize to gain : 
'Tis Their's, to meet in Arms, and Battel in the Plain. 

XXIL 

The ancient Father of this Hostile Brood, 
Their boasted Brute, undaunted snatch'd his Gods 
From burning Troy, and Xanthus red with Blood, 
And fix'd on Silver Thames his dire Abodes ; 
And this be Troynovante, He said, the Seat 
By Heav'n ordain'd, My Sons, Your lasting Place : 
Superior here to all the Bolts of Fate 
Live, mindful of the Author of your Race, 
Whom neither Greece, nor War, nor Want, nor Flame, 
Nor Great Peleides' Arm, nor Juno's Rage could tame. 

XXIII. 
Their Tudor's hence, and Siuart's Off-spring flow : 
Hence Edward, dreadful with his Sable Shield, 
Talbot, to Gallia's Pow'r Eternal Foe, 
And Seymour, fam'd in Council, or in Field : 
Hence Nevil, Great to Settle or Dethrone, 
And Drake, and Ca'ndish, Terrors of the Sea : 
Hence Butler's Sons, o'er Land and Ocean known, 
Herbert's, and Churchill's Warring Progeny : 
Hence the long Roll which Gallia should conceal : 
For, oh ! Who vanquish'd, loves the Vi6lor's Fame to tell ? 

XXIV. 
Envy'd Britannia, sturdy as the Oak, 
Which on her Mountain-Top She proudly bears. 
Eludes the Ax, and sprouts against the Stroke ; 
Strong from her Wounds, and greater by her Wars. 

J 68 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And as Those Teeth, which Cadmus sow'd in Earth, 

Produc'd new Youth, and furnish'd fresh Supplies : 

So with young Vigor, and succeeding Birth, 

Her Losses more than recompens'd arise ; 

And ev'ry Age She with a Race is CrownM, 

For Letters more Polite, in Battels more Renown'd. 

XXV. 

Obstinate Pow'r, whom Nothing can repel ; 
Not the fierce Saxon, nor the cruel Dane, 
Nor deep Impression of the Norman Steel, 
Nor Europe's Force amass'd by envious Spain, 
Nor France on universal Sway intent, 
Oft breaking Leagues, and oft renewing Wars, 
Nor (frequent Bane of wealcen'd Government) 
Their own intestine Feuds, and mutual Jars ; 
Those Feuds and Jars, in which I trusted more, 
Than in My Troops, and Fleets, and all the Gallic Pow'r. 

XXVL 
To fruitful Rheims, or fair Lutetia's Gate 
What Tidings shall the Messenger convey ? 
Shall the loud Herald our Success relate, 
Or mitred Priest appoint the Solemn Day ? 
Alas ! my Praises They no more must Sing ; 
They to my Statue now must Bow no more : 
Broken, repuls'd is their Immortal King : 

Fall'n, fall'n for ever is the Gallic Pow'r 

The JVoman Chief is Master of the War : 

Earth She has freed by Arms, and vanquish'd Heav'n by Pray'r. 

XXVII. 

While thus the ruin'd Foe's Despair commends 
Thy Council and Thy Deed, Vidorious Queen, 
What shall Thy Subjefts say, and what Thy Friends ? 
How shall Thy Triumphs in Our Joy be seen ? 
Oh ! daign to let the Eldest of the Nine 
Recite Britannia Great, and Gallia Free: 
Oh ! with her Sister Sculpture let her join 
To raise, Great Anne, the Monument to Thee ; 
To Thee, of all our Good the Sacred Spring ; 
To Thee, our dearest Dread ; to Thee, our softer King. 

169 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

XXVIII. 

Let Europe sav'd the Column high ere6t, 
Than Trajan's higher, or than Antonine's ; 
Where sembHng Art may carve the fair EfFe6l, 
And full Atchievement of Thy great Designs. 
In a calm Heav'n, and a serener Air, 
Sublime the Queen shall on the Summit stand, 
From Danger far, as far remov'd from Fear, 
And pointing down to Earth Her dread Command. 
All Winds, all Storms that threaten Human Woe, 
Shall sink beneath Her Feet, and spread their Rage below. 

XXIX. 

There Fleets shall strive by Winds and Waters tost ; 
'Till the young Austrian on Iberia's Strand, 
Great as JEt^eas on the Latian Coast, 
Shall fix his Foot : and This, be This the Land, 
Great Jove, where I for ever will remain 
(The Empire's other Hope shall say) and here 

Vanquish'd, Intomb'd I'll lye, or Crown'd I'll Reign 

O Virtue, to thy British Mother dear ! 

Like the fam'd Trojan suffer and abide ; 

For Anne is Thine, I ween, as Venus was His Guide. 

XXX. 

There, in Eternal Charadlers engrav'd, 
Vigo, and Gibraltar, and Barcelone, 
Their Force destroy 'd, their Privileges sav'd, 
Shall Anna's Terrors, and Her Mercies own : 
Spain, from th'Usurper Bourbon's Arms retriev'd, 
Shall with new Life and grateful Joy appear, 
Numb'ring the Wonders which That Youth atchiev'd, 
Whom Anna clad in Arms, and sent to War; 
Whom Anna sent to claim Iberia's Throne; 
And made Him more than King, in calling Him Her Son. 

XXXI. 

There Ister pleas'd, by Blenheim's glorious Field 
Rolling, shall bid his Eastern Waves declare 
Germania sav'd by Britain's ample Shield, 
And bleeding Gaul affli6ted by her Spear : 

170 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Shall bid Them mention Marlbro, on that Shore 

Leading his Islanders, renown'd in Arms, 

Thro' Climes, where never British Chief before 

Or pitch 'd his Camp, or sounded his Alarms : 

Shall bid Them bless the Queen, who made his Streams 

Glorious as those of Boyn, and safe as those of Thames. 

XXXII. 
Brabantia, clad with Fields, and crown'd with Tow'rs, 
With decent Joy shall her Deliv'rer meet ; 
Shall own Thy Arms, Great Queen, and bless Thy Pow'rs, 
Laying the Keys beneath Thy Subje6l's Feet. 
Flandria, by Plenty made the Home of War, 
Shall weep her Crime, and bow to Charles restor'd ; 
With double Vows shall bless Thy happy Care, 
In having drawn, and having sheath'd the Sword. 
From these their Sister Provinces shall know 
How Anne supports a Friend, and how forgives a Foe. 

XXXIII. 

Bright Swords, and crested Helms, and pointed Spears 
In artful Piles around the Work shall lye ; 
And Shields indented deep in ancient Wars, 
Blazon'd with Signs of Gallic Heraldry; 
And Standards with distinguish'd Honors bright, 
Marks of high Pow'r and National Command, 
Which Valois' Sons, and Bourbon's bore in Fight, 
Or gave to Foix', or Montmorancy's Hand : 
Great Spoils, which Gallia must to Britain yield, 
From Cressy's Battel sav'd, to grace Ramillia's Field. 

XXXIV. 
And as fine Art the Spaces may dispose. 
The knowing Thought and curious Eye shall see 
Thy Emblem, Gracious Queen, the British Rose, 
Type of sweet Rule, and gentle Majesty : 
The Northern Thistle, whom no Hostile Hand 
Unhurt too rudely may provoke, I ween ; 
Hibernia's Harp, Device of Her Command, 
And Parent of Her Mirth, shall there be seen : 
Thy vanquish'd Lillies, France, decay'd and torn, 
Shall with disorder'd Pomp the lasting Work adorn. 

171 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



XXXV. 



Beneath, Great Queen, oh ! very far beneath, 
Near to the Ground, and on the humble Base, 
To save Her self from Darkness, and from Death, 
That Muse desires the last, the lowest Place ; 
Who tho' unmeet, yet touch'd the trembling String ; 
For the fair Fame of Anne and Albion's Land, 
Who durst of War and Martial Fury Sing : 
And when Thy Will, and when Thy Subject's Hand 
Had quell'd those Wars, and bid that Fury cease ; 
Hangs up her grateful Harp to Conquest, and to Peace. 



CANTATA. 

Set by Monsieur Galliard. 

REGIT. 

BENEATH a verdant Lawrel's ample Shade, 
His Lyre to mournful Numbers strung, 
Horace, immortal Bard, supinely laid, 
To Venus thus address'd the Sono- : 

o 

Ten thousand little Loves around 
List'ning, dwelt on ev'ry Sound. 

ARIET. 

Potent Venus, bid Thy Son 

Sound no more His dire Alarms. 

Youth on silent Wings is flown : 
Graver Years come rolling on. 

Spare my Age, unfit for Arms : 
Safe and iiumble let Me rest, 
From all am'rous Care releas'd. 

Potent Venus, bid Thy Son 

Sound no more His dire Alarms. 
172 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

REGIT. 

Yet, Venus, why do I each Morn prepare 
The fragrant Wreath for Cloe's Hair ? 
Why, why do I all Day lament, and sigh. 
Unless the beauteous Maid be nigh ? 
And why all Night pursue Her in my Dreams, 
Thro' Flow'ry Meads, and Crystal Streams ? 

REGIT. 

Thus sung the Bard; and thus the Goddess spoke 
Submissive bow to Love's imperious Yoke. 
Ev'ry State, and ev'ry Age 
Shall own My Rule, and fear My Rage : 
Compell'd by Me Thy Muse shall prove, 
That all the World was born to love. 

ARIET. 

Bid Thy destin'd Lyre discover 

Soft Desire, and gentle Pain : 
Often praise, and always love Her : 

Thro' her Ear her Heart obtain. 
Verse shall please, and Sighs shall move Her : 

Cupid does with Phoebus reign. 



Her Right Name. 



As Nancy at Her Toylet sat. 
Admiring This, and blaming That ; 
Tell Me, She said ; but tell Me true ; 
The Nymph who cou'd your Heart subdue. 
What Sort of Charms does She possess ? 
Absolve Me Fair One : I'll confess ; 
With Pleasure I reply'd. Her Hair, 
In Ringlets rather dark than fair. 
Does down her Iv'ry Bosom roll, 
And hiding Half, adorns the Whole. 

173 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

In her high Forehead's fair half-round 
Love sits in open Triumph crown'd : 
He in the Dimple of her Chin, 
In private State by Friends is seen. 
Her Eyes are neither black, nor grey; 
Nor fierce, nor feeble is their Ray : 
Their dubious Lustre seems to show- 
Something that speaks nor Yes, nor No. 
Her Lips no living Bard, I weet, 
May say, how Red, how Round, how Sweet 
Old Homer only cou'd indite 
Their vagrant Grace, and soft Delight : 
They stand Recorded in his Book, 

When Helen smil'd, and Hebe spoke 

The Gipsy turning to her Glass, 
Too plainly show'd. She knew the Face : 
And which am I most like. She said. 
Your Cloe, or Your Nut-brown Maidf 



Written in a7i OVID. 

OVID is the surest Guide, 
You can name, to show the Way 
To any Woman, Maid, or Bride, 
Who resolves to go astray. 



A TRUE MAID. 

No, no ; for my Virginity, 
When I lose that, says Rose, I'll dye 
Behind the Elmes, last Night, cry'd Dick, 
Rose, were You not extreamly Sick ? 



174 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



ANOTHER. 

TEN Months after Florimel happen'd to wed, 
And was brought in a laudable Manner to Bed ; 
She warbl'd Her Groans with so charming a Voice, 
That one half of the Parish was stun'd with the Noise. 
But when Florimel deign'd to lie privately in, 
Ten Months before She and her Spouse were a-kin ; 
She chose with such Prudence her Pangs to conceal. 
That her Nurse, nay her Midwife, scarce heard her once squeal. 
Learn, Husbands, from hence, for the Peace of your Lives, 
That Maids make not half such a Tumult, as Wives. 



A Reasonable Affliction. 

ON His Death-Bed poor Lubin lies 
His Spouse is in Despair : 
With frequent Sobs, and mutual Cries, 

They Both express their Care. 
A diff'rent Cause, says Parson Sly, 

The same EfFeft may give : 
Poor Lubin fears, that He shall Die; 
His Wife, that He may Live. 



Another Reasonable Affliction. 

FROM her own Native France as old Alison past, 
She reproach'd English Nell with Negledt or with Malice, 
That the Slattern had left, in the Hurry and Hast, 
Her Lady's Complexion, and Eye-brows at Calais. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



ANOTHER. 

HER Eye-brow-Box one Morning lost, 
(The best of Folks are oft'nest crost) 
Sad Helen thus to Jennv said, 
Her careless but afflidted Maid ; 
Put me to Bed then, wretched Jane : 
Alas ! when shall I rise again ? 
I can behold no Mortal now : 
For what's an Eye without a Brow ? 



0?2 the same Stibjeft, 

IN a dark Corner of the House, 
Poor Helen sits, and sobs and cries 
She will not see her Loving Spouse, 
Nor her more dear Picquet-h}^\Q.'=, : 
Unless She finds her Eye-brows, 
She'll e'en weep out her Eyes. 



On the Same. 

HELEN was just slipt into Bed : 
Her Eye-brows on the Toilet lay : 
Away the Kitten with them fled. 
As Fees belonging to her Prey. 

For this Misfortune careless Jane, 
Assure your self, was loudly rated : 

And Madam getting up again, 
With her own Hand the Mouse-Trap baited. 

On little Things, as Sages write. 
Depends our Human Joy, or Sorrow : 

If We don't catch a Mouse To-night, 
Alas ! no Eye-brows for To-morrow. 



176 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



PHYLLIS^ AGE. 

HOW old may Phyllis be, You ask, 
Whose Beauty thus all Hearts engages ? 
To Answer is no easie Task ; 
For She has really two Ages, 

Stiff in Brocard, and pinch'd in Stays, 
Her Patches, Paint, and Jewels on ; 

All Day let Envy view her Face ; 
And Phyllis is but Twenty-one. 

Paint, Patches, Jewels laid aside, 

At Night Astronomers agree. 
The Evening has the Day bely'd ; 

And Phyllis is some Forty-three. 



Forma Bonum Fragile, 

WHAT a frail Thing is Beauty, says Baron Le Cras, 
Perceiving his Mistress had one Eye of Glass : 
And scarcely had He spoke it ; 
When She more confus'd, as more angry She grew, 
By a negligent Rage prov'd the Maxim too true : 
She dropt the Eye, and broke it. 



H 



A Critical Moment. 

OW capricious were Nature and Art to poor Nell ? 
She was painting her Cheeks at the time her Nose fell. 



M 



177 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
An EPIGRAM. 

Written to the Duke de Noailles. 

VAIN the Concern which You express, 
That uncall'd Alard will possess 

Your House and Coach, both Day and Night ; 
And that Mackbeth was haunted less 

By Banquo's restless Spright. 
With Fifteen Thousand Pound a Year, 
Do You complain, You cannot bear 

An 111, You may so soon retrieve ? 
Good Alard, faith, is modester 

By much, than You believe. 
Lend Him but fifty Louis (Vor^ 
And You shall never see Him more : 

Take the Advice ; Probatum est. 
Why do the Gods indulge our Store, 

But to secure our Rest ? 

EPILOGUE 

TO 
PHMDRA. 

Spoken by Mrs. Oldfield, who adied Ismena. 



E' 



ADIES, to Night your Pity I implore 

For One, who never troubled You before : 
An OxFORD-Man, extreamly read in Greek, 
Who from Euripides makes Ph-sdra speak ; 
And comes to Town, to let Us Moderns know, 
How Women lov'd two thousand Years ago. 

If that be all, said I, e'en burn your Play : 
r gad ! We know all that, as well as They : 
Show Us the youthful, handsome Charioteer, 
Firm in his Seat, and running his Career ; 

178 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Our Souls would kindle with as gen'rous Flames, 
As e'er inspir'd the antient Grecian Dames : 
Ev'ry IsMENA would resign her Breast ; 
And ev'ry dear Hippolytus be blest. 

But, as it is, Six flouncing Flanders Mares 
Are e'en as good, as any Two of Theirs ; 
And if Hippolytus can but contrive 
To buy the gilded Chariot; John can drive. 

Now of the Bustle You have seen to Day, 
And Phj^dra's Morals in this Scholar's Play, 
Something at least in Justice should be said : 

But this Hippolytus so fills One's Head 

Well ! Ph^dra liv'd as chastly as She cou'd. 

For she was Father Jove's own Flesh and Blood. 

Her aukward Love indeed was odly fated : 

She and her Poly were too near related : 

And yet that Scruple had been laid aside, 

If honest Theseus had but fairly dy'd: 

But when He came, what needed He to know, 

But that all Matters stood in Statu quo ? 

There was no harm, You see; or grant there were: 

She might want Conduct ; but He wanted Care. 

'Twas in a Husband little less than rude, 

Upon his Wife's Retirement to intrude 

He should have sent a Night or two before. 
That He would come exaft at such an Hour : 
Then He had turn'd all Tragedy to Jest ; 
Found ev'ry Thing contribute to his Rest ; 
The P/c-^M^/-Friend dismiss'd, the Coast all clear, 
And Spouse alone impatient for her Dear. 

But if these gay Refledtions come too late, 
To keep the guilty Ph^dra from her Fate; 
If your more serious Judgment must condemn 
The dire Efte6ls of her vmhappy Flame : 
Yet, Ye chaste Matrons, and Ye tender Fair, 
Let Love and Innocence engage your Care: 
My spotless Flames to your Proteftion take ; 
And spare poor Fh^dra, for Ismena's sake. 

M 2 179 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

EPILOGUE 

TO 

LUCIUS. 

spoken by Mrs. Horton. 

THE Female Author who recites to Day, 
Trusts to her Sex the Merit of her Play. 
Like Father Bayes securely She sits down : 
Pitt, Box and Gallery, Gad ! All's our Own. 
In antient Greece, She says, when Sappho writ, 
By their Applause the Critics show'd their Wit. 
They tun'd their Voices to her Lyric String; 
The' they cou'd All do something more, than Sing. 
But one Exception to this Fad we find; 
That Booby Phaon only was unkind, 
An ill-bred Boat-man, rough as Waves and Wind. 
From Sappho down thro' all succeeding Ages, 
And now on French, or on Italian Stages, 
Rough Satyrs, sly Remarks, ill-natur'd Speeches, 
Are always aim'd at Poets, that wear Breeches. 
Arm'd with Longinus, or with Rapin, No Man 
Drew a sharp Pen upon a Naked Woman. 
The blust'ring Bully in our neighb'ring Streets, 
Scorns to attack the Female that He meets : 
Fearless the Petticoat contemns his Frowns : 
The Hoop secures, whatever it surrounds. 
The many-color'd Gentry there above. 
By turns are rul'd by Tumult, and by Love : 
And while their Sweet-hearts their Attention fix. 
Suspend the Din of their damn'd clatt'ring Sticks. 

Now Sirs 

To You our Author niakes Her soft Request, 
Who speak the kindest, and who write the best. 
Your Sympathetic Hearts She hopes to move. 
From tender Friendship, and endearing Love. 

i8o 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

If Petrarch's Muse did Laura's Wit rehearse, 
And Cowley flatter'd dear Orinda's Verse ; 

She hopes from You Pox take her Hopes and Fears ; 

I plead her Sexe's Claim : what matters Hers ? 

By Our full Pow'r of Beauty We think fit, 

To damn this Salique Law impos'd on Wit : 

We'll try the Empire You so long have boasted ; 

And if We are not Prais'd, We'll not be Toasted. 

Approve what One of us presents to Night ; 

Or ev'ry Mortal Woman here shall write : 

Rural, Pathetic, Narrative, Sublime, 

We'll write to You, and make You write in Rhime : 

Female Remarks shall take up all Your Time. 

Your Time, poor Souls ! we'll take your very Money ; 

Female Third Days shall come so thick upon Ye. 

As long as We have Eyes, or Hands, or Breath, 

We'll Look, or Write, or Talk You All to Death. 

Unless Ye yield for Better and for Worse : 

Then the She-PEGASUs shall gain the Course ; 

And the Grey Mare will prove the better Horse. 



The THIEF 

AND THE 

CORDELIER, 

A BALLAD. 

To the Tune of 
King John, and the Abbot of Canterbury. 

WHO has e'er been at Paris, must needs know the Greve^ 
The fatal Retreat of th'unfortunate Brave ; 
Where Honor and Justice most odly contribute. 
To ease Hero's Pains by a Halter and Gibbet. 
Derry down^ down^ hey derry down. 

i8i 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

There Death breaks the Shackles, which Force had put on ; 
And the Hangman compleats, what the Judge but begun: 
There the 'Squire of the Pad, and the Knight of the Post, 
Find their Pains no more balk'd, and their Hopes no more crost. 
Derry down^ &c. 

Great Claims are there made, and great Secrets are known; 
And the King, and the Law, and the Thief has His own : 
But my Hearers cry out ; What a duce dost Thou ayl ? 
Cut off thy Reflections ; and give Us thy Tale. 
Derry doivn^ Sec. 

'Twas there, then, in civil Respeft to harsh Laws, 
And for want of false Witness, to back a bad Cause, 
A Norman, tho' late, was oblig'd to appear : 
And Who to assist, but a grave Cordelier ? 
Derry down, &c. 

The 'Squire, whose good Grace was to open the Scene, 
Seem'd not in great Haste, that the Show shou'd begin : 
Now fitted the Halter, now travers'd the Cart ; 
And often took Leave ; but was loath to Depart. 
Derry down, &c. 

What frightens You thus, my good Son ? says the Priest : 
You Murther'd, are Sorry, and have been Confest. 
O Father ! My Sorrow will scarce save my Bacon : 
For 'twas not that I Murther'd, but that I was Taken. 
Derry dotvn, &c. 

Pough ! pr'ythee ne'er trouble thy Head with such Fancies: 
Rely on the Aid You shall have from Saint Francis : 
If the Money You promis'd be brought to the Chest ; 
You have only to Dye : let the Church do the rest. 
Derry doivn, &c. 

And what will Folks say, if they see You afraid ? 
It reflects upon Me ; as I knew not my Trade : 
Courage, Friend ; To-day is your Period of Sorrow ; 
And Things will go better, believe Me, To-morrow. 
Derry down, &c. 

182 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

To-morrow ? our Hero reply'd in a Fright : 
He that's hang'd before Noon, ought to think of To-night. 
Tell your Beads, quoth the Priest, and be fairly truss'd up: 
For You surely To-night shall in Paradise Sup. 
Derry down^ &c. 

Alas ! quoth the 'Squire, howe'er sumptuous the Treat, 
Parblew, I shall have little Stomach to Eat : 
I should therefore esteem it great Favor, and Grace ; 
Wou'd You be so kind, as to go in my Place. 
Derry down^ &c. 

That I w^ou'd, quoth the Father, and thank you to boot; 
But our Aftions, You know, with our Duty must suit. 
The Feast, I propos'd to You, I cannot taste : 
For this Night, by our Order, is mark'd for a Fast. 
Derry doiun^ Sec. 

Then turning about to the Hangman, He said j 
Dispatch me, I pr'ythee, this troublesome Blade : 
For Thy Cord, and My Cord both equally tie ; 
And We Live by the Gold, for which other Men Dye. 
Derry down, Sec. 



An EPITAPH. 

Stet quicunque volet potens 

Aula culmine lubrico, &c. Senec. 

INTERR'D beneath this Marble Stone, 
Lie Saunt'ring Jack, and Idle Joan. 
While rolling Threescore Years and One 
Did round this Globe their Courses run ; 
If Human Things went 111 or Well ; 
If changing Empires rose or fell ; 
The Morning past, the Evening came. 
And found this Couple still the same. 

183 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

They Walk'd and Eat, good Folks : What then ? 
Why then They Walk'd and Eat again : 
They soundly slept the Nigiit away: 
They did just Nothing all the Day: 
And having bury'd Children Four, 
Wou'd not take Pains to try for more. 
Nor Sister either had, nor Brother : 
They seem'd just Tally'd for each other. 

Their Moral and Oeconomy 
Most perfe6lly They made agree : 
Each Virtue kept it's proper Bound, 
Nor Trespass'd on the other's Ground. 
Nor Fame, nor Censure They regarded : 
They neither Punish'd, nor Rewarded. 
He car'd not what the Footmen did : 
Her Maids She neither prais'd, nor chid : 
So ev'ry Servant took his Course ; 
And bad at First, They all grew worse. 
Slothful Disorder fiU'd His Stable; 
And sluttish Plenty deck'd Her Table. 
Their Beer was strong ; Their Wine was Port ; 
Their Meal was large ; Their Grace was short. 
They gave the Poor the Remnant-meat, 
Just when it grew not fit to eat. 

They paid the Church and Parish-Rate ; 
And took, but read not the Receit : 
For which They claim'd their Sunday''s Due, 
Of slumb'ring in an upper Pew. 

No Man's Defefts sought They to know ; 
So never made Themselves a Foe. 
No Man's good Deeds did They commend ; 
So never rais'd Themselves a Friend. 
Nor chcrish'd They Relations poor : 
That might decrease Their present Store : 
Nor Barn nor House did they repair : 
That might oblige Their future Heir. 



184 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

They neither Added, nor Confounded : 
They neither Wanted, nor Abounded. 
Each Chr'ist7nas They Accompts did clear ; 
And wound their Bottom round the Year. 
Nor Tear, nor Smile did They imploy 
At News of Public Grief, or Joy. 
When Bells were Rung, and Bonfires made ; 
If ask'd. They ne'er deny'd their Aid : 
Their Jugg was to the Ringers carry'd ; 
Who ever either Dy'd, or Marry'd. 
Their Billet at the Fire was found ; 
Who ever was Depos'd, or Crown'd. 

Nor Good, nor Bad, nor Fools, nor Wise j 
They wou'd not learn, nor cou'd advise : 
Without Love, Hatred, Joy, or Fear, 

They led a kind of as it were : 

Nor Wish'd, nor Car'd, nor Laugh'd, nor Cry'd : 
And so They liv'd ; and so They dy'd. 



Horace Lib. L Epist. IX. 

Septimius, Claudi^ nimirum intelligit unus^ 
Quanti me facias : &c. 

Imitated. 

To the Right Honorable 

Mr. HARLET. 

DEAR Dick, hov/ e'er it comes into his Head, 
Believes, as firmly as He does his Creed, 
That You and I, Sir, are extremely great ; 
Tho' I plain Mat, You Minister of State. 
One Word from JVIe, without all doubt. He says, 
Wou'd fix his Fortune in some little Place. 



185 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Thus better than My self, it seems, He knows. 
How far my Interest with my Patron goes ; 
And answering all Objeftions I can make. 
Still plunges deeper in his dear Mistake. 

From this wild Fancy, Sir, there may proceed 
One wilder yet, which I foresee, and dread ; 
That I, in FacSt, a real Interest have. 
Which to my own Advantage I wou'd save. 
And, with the usual Courtier's Trick, intend 
To serve My self, forgetful of my Friend. 

To shun this Censure, I all Shame lay by; 
And make my Reason with his Will comply; 
Hoping, for my Excuse, 'twill be confest, 
That of two Evils I have chose the least. 
So, Sir, with this Epistolary Scroll, 
Receive the Partner of my inmost Soul : 
Him you will find in Letters, and in Laws 
Not unexpert, firm to his Country's Cause, 
Warm in the Glorious Interest You pursue. 
And, in one Word, a Good Man and a True. 



To Mr. HARLEY. 

Wounded by Guiscard. 171 i 

-ah ipso 



Duett opes animumque ferro. Hor. 

I. 

IN one great Now^ Superior to an Age, 
The full Extremes of Nature's Force We find 
How Heav'nly Virtue can exalt; or Rage 
Infernal, how degrade the Human Mind. 

186 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

11. 

While the fierce Monk does at his Tryal stand ; 

He chews Revenge, abjuring his Offence : 
Guile in his Tongue, and Murther in his Hand, 

He stabs his Judge, to prove his Innocence. 

HI. 

The guilty Stroke and Torture of the Steel 
Infix'd, our dauntless Briton scarce perceives : 

The Wounds His Countrey from His Death must feel. 
The Patriot views ; for those alone He grieves, 

IV. 

The barb'rous Rage that durst attempt Thy Life, 
Harley, great Counsellor, extends Thy Fame : 

And the sharp Point of cruel Guiscard's Knife, 
In Brass and Marble carves Thy deathless Name. 

V. 

Faithful Assertor of Thy Country's Cause, 

Britain with Tears shall bath Thy glorious Wound : 

She for thy Safety shall enlarge Her Laws ; 

And in Her Statutes shall Thy Worth be found. 

VL 

Yet 'midst Her Sighs She Triumphs, on the Hand 
Refle6ling, that diffus'd the Publick Woe ; 

A Stranger to her Altars, and her Land : 
No Son of Her's could meditate this Blow. 

VII. 

Mean Time Thy Pain is gracious Anna's Care : 
Our Queen, our Saint, with sacrificing Breath 

Softens Thy Anguish : In Her pow'rful Pray'r 
She pleads Thy Service, and forbids Thy Death. 

VIII. 

Great as Thou art. Thou canst demand no more, 
O Breast bewail'd by Earth, preserv'd by Heav'n ! 

No higher can aspiring Virtue soar : 

Enough to Thee of Grief, and Fame is giv'n. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

An Exte7npore Invitation 
TO THE 

EARL of OXFORD, 

Lord High Treasurer. 17 12 



O 



My LORD, 

UR Weekly Friends To-morrow meet 
At Matthew's Palace, iir Duke-street ; 
To try for once, if They can Dine 
On Bacon-Ham, and Mutton-chine : 
If weary'd with the great Affairs, 
Which Britain trusts to Harlev's Cares, 
Thou, humble Statesman, may'st descend, 
Thy Mind one Moment to unbend ; 
To see Thy Servant from his Soul 
Crown with Thy Health the sprightly Bowl 
Among the Guests, which e'er my House 
Receiv'd, it never can produce 

Of Honor a more glorious Proof 

Tho' Dorset us'd to bless the Roof. 



Erie ROBERT'S 

MICE. 

hi ChaucerV Stile, 

TWAY Mice, full Blythe and Amicable, 
Batten beside Erie Robert's Table. 
Lies there ne Trap their Necks to catch, 
Ne old black Cat their Steps to watch. 
Their Fill they eat of Fowl and Fish ; 
Feast-lyche as Heart of Mouse mote wish. 



188 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

As Guests sat Jovial at the Board, 
Forth leap'd our Mice : Eftsoons the Lord 
Of BoLiNG, whilome John the Saint, 
Who maketh oft Propos full queint, 
Laugh'd jocund, and aloud He cry'd, 
To Matthew seated on t'oth' side ; 
To Thee, lean Bard, it doth partain 
To understand these Creatures Tweine. 
Come frame Us now some clean Device, 
Or playsant Rhime on yonder Mice : 
They seem, God shield Me, Mat. and Charles. 

Bad as Sir Topaz, or 'Squire Quarles 
(Matthew did for the nonce reply) 
At Emblem, or Device am I : 
But could I Chaunt, or Rhyme, pardie. 
Clear as Dan Chaucer, or as Thee ; 
Ne Verse from Me (so God me shrive) 
On Mouse, or other Beast alive. 
Certes, I have these many Days 
Sent myne Poetic Herd to graze. 
Ne Armed Knight ydrad in War 
With Lyon fierce will I compare : 
Ne Judge unjust, with furred Fox, 
Harming in Secret Guise the Flocks : 
Ne Priest unworth of Goddess Coat, 
To Swine ydrunk, or filthy Stoat. 
Elk Simile farwell for aye. 
From Elephant, I trow, to Flea. 

Reply'd the friendlike Peer, I weene, 
Matthew is angred on the Spleen. 
Ne so, quoth Mat. ne shall be e'er. 
With Wit that falleth all so fair : 
Eftsoons, well weet Ye, mine Intent 
Boweth to your Commaundement. 
If by these Creatures Ye have seen, 
Pourtrayed Charles and Matthew been ; 
Behoveth neet to wreck my Brain, 
The rest in Order to explain. 



189 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

That Cup- board, where the Mice disport, 
I liken to St.* Stephen's Court : 
Therein is Space enough, I trow, 
For elke Comrade to come and goe : 
And therein eke may Both be fed 
With Shiver of the Wheaten Bread. 
And when, as these mine Eyen survey. 
They cease to skip, and squeak, and play ; 
Return they may to different Cells, 
Auditing One, whilst t'other Tells. 

Dear Robert, quoth the Saint, whose Mind 
In Bounteous Deed no Mean can bind ; 
Now as I hope to grow devout, 
I deem this Matter well made out. 
Laugh I, whilst thus I serious Pray ? | 

Let that be wrought which Mat. doth say : 
Yea, quoth the ERLE ; but not to Day. ) 

I 71 the same Style. 

FULL oft doth Mat. with Topaz dine, 
Eateth bak'd Meats, drinketh Greek Wine : 
But Topaz his own Werke rehearseth ; 
And Mat. mote praise what Topaz verseth. 
Now sure as Priest did e'er shrive Sinner, 
Full hardly earneth Mat. his Dinner. 

/;/ tJje same Style. 

FAIR Susan did her Wif-hede well menteine, 
Algates assaulted sore by Letchours tweine ; 
Now, and I read aright that Auncient Song, 
Olde were the Paramours, the Dame full yong. 

Had thilke same Tale in other Guise been tolde ; 
Had They been Yong (pardie) and She been Olde ; 
That, by S' Kit, had wrought much sorer Tryal : 
Full merveillous, I wote, were swilk Denyal. 

* Exchequer. 



190 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

A FLOWER, 

Painted by 

SIMON VARELSr. 

WHEN fam'd Varelst this little Wonder drew j 
Flora vouchsaf'd the growing Work to view : 
Finding the Painter's Science at a Stand, 
The Goddess snatch'd the Pencil from his Hand ; 
And finishing the Piece, She smiling said ; 
Behold One Work of Mine, that ne'er shall fade. 

TO THE 

Lady Elizabeth Harley, 

Si7tce Marchioness of Carmarthen, 

On a Column of Her Drawing. 

WHEN future Ages shall with Wonder view 
These glorious Lines, which Harley's Daughter drew; 
They shall confess, that Britain could not raise 
A fairer Column to the Father's Praise. 

Protogenes and Apelles. 

WHEN Poets wrote, and Painters drew, 
As Nature pointed out the View : 
E'er Gothic Forms were known in Greece, 
To spoil the well-proportion'd Piece : 
And in our Verse e'er Monkish Rhimes 
Had jangl'd their fantastic Chimes : 

191 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

E'er on the flow'ry Lands of Rhodes 

Those Knights had fix'd their dull Abodes, 

Who knew not much to paint or write, 

Nor car'd to pray, nor dar'd to fight : 

Protogenes, Historians note, 

Liv'd there, a Burgess Scot and Lot ; 

And, as old Pliny's Writings show, 

Apelles did the same at Co. 

Agreed these Points of Time, and Place, 

Proceed We in the present Case. 

Picqu'd by Protogenes's Fame, 
From Co to Rhodes, Apelles came ; 
To see a Rival and a Friend, 
Prepar'd to Censure, or Commend, 
Here to absolve, and there obje6f, 
As Art with Candor might direct. 
He sails. He lands. He comes. He rings : 
His Servants follow with the Things : 
Appears the Governante of th'House : 
(For such in Greece were much in use.) 
If Young or Handsom, Yea or No, 
Concerns not Me, or Thee to know. 

Does 'Squire Protogenes live here ? 
Yes, Sir, says She with gracious Air, 
And Curt'sey low ; but just call'd out 
By Lords peculiarly devout ; 
Who came on purpose. Sir, to borrow 
Our Venus, for the Feast To-morrow, 
To grace the Church: 'tis Venus' Day: 
I hope, Sir, You intend to stay. 
To see our Venus : 'tis the Piece 
The most renown'd throughout all Greece, 
So like th'Original, they say : 
But I have no great Skill that Way. 
But, Sir, at Six ('tis now past Three) 
Dromo must make my Master's Tea : 
At Six, Sir, if You please to come. 
You'll find my Master, Sir, at Home. 



192 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Tea, says a Critic big with Laughter, 
Was found some twenty Ages after : 
Authors, before they write, shou'd read : 
'Tis very true ; but We'll proceed. 

And, Sir, at present wou'd you please 

To leave your Name Fair Maiden, yes : 

Reach me that Board. No sooner spoke 

But done. With one judicious Stroke, 

On the plain Ground Apelles drew 

A Circle regularly true : 

And will you please. Sweet-heart, said He, 

To shew your Master this from Me ? 

By it He presently will know. 

How Painters write their Names at Co. 

He gave the Pannel to the Maid. 
Smiling and Curt'sing, Sir, She said, 
I shall not fail to tell my Master : 
And, Sir, for fear of all Disaster, 
I'll keep it my own self: Safe bind. 
Says the old Proverb, and Safe find. 

So, Sir, as sure as Key or Lock 

Your Servant Sir at Six a Clock. 

Again at Six Apelles came ; 
Found the same prating civil Dame. 
Sir, that my Master has been here. 
Will by the Board it self appear. 
If from the perfe6l Line He found, 
He has presum'd to swell the Round, 
Or Colors on the Draught to lay ; 
'Tis thus (He order'd me to say) 
Thus write the Painters of this Isle : 
Let those of Co remark the Style. 

She said ; and to his Hand restor'd 
The rival Pledge, the Missive Board. 
Upon the happy Line were laid 
Such obvious Light, and easie Shade ; 
That Paris' Apple stood confest. 
Or Leda's Egg, or Cloe's Breast. 



193 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Apelles view'd the finish'd Piece ; 
And Live, said He, the Arts of Greece ! 
Howe'er Protogenes and I 
May in our Rival Talents vie ; 
Howe'er our Works may have express'd, 
Who truest drew, or color'd best ; 
When He beheld my flowing Line ; 
He found at least I cou'd design : 
And from his artful Round, I grant, 
That He with perfeft Skill can paint. 

The dullest Genius cannot fail 
To find the Moral of my Tale : 
That the distinguish'd Part of Men, 
With Compass, Pencil, Sword, or Pen, 
Shou'd in Life's Visit leave their Name, 
Li Charafters, which may proclaim 
That They with Ardor strove to raise 
At once their Arts, and Countrey's Praise 
And in their Working took great Care, 
That all was Full, and Round, and Fair. 



Democritus aiid Heraclitus. 

DEMOCRITUS, dear Droll, revisit Earth, 
And with our Follies glut Thy heighten'd Mirth 
Sad Heraclitus, serious Wretch, return, 
In louder Grief our greater Crimes to mourn. 
Between You both I unconcern'd stand by : 
Hurt, can I laugh ? and Honest, need I cry ? 

For my own To77ib-st07ie. 

TO Me 'twas giv'n to die : to Thee 'tis giv'n 
To live : Alas ! one Moment sets us ev'n. 
Mark ! how impartial is the Will of Heav'n ? 

194 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

GUALTERUS DANISTONUS. 

Ad Amicos. 

DUM Studeo fungi fallentis munere vitae, 
Adfe6loque viam sedibus Elysiis, 
Arctoa florens Sophia, Samiisque superbus 

Discipulis, Animas morte carere cano. 
Has ego corporibiis profugas ad sidera mitto ; 

Sideraque ingressis otia blanda dico : 
Qualia conveniunt Divis, queis fata volebant 

Vitai faciles molliter ire vias : 
Vinaque Ccelicolis media inter gaudia libo ; 

Et me quid majus suspicor esse viro. 
Sed fuerint nulli forsan, quos spondeo, coeli ; 

NuUaque sint DiTis Numina, nulla Jovis : 
Fabiila sit terris agitur quas vita reliftis; 

Quique superstes, Homo ; qui nihil, esto Deus. 
Attamen esse hilares, & inanes mittere curas 

Proderit, ac vitae commoditate fi"ui, 
Et festos agitasse dies, sevique fugacis 

Tempora perpetuis detinuisse jocis. 
His me parentem praeceptis occupet Orcus, 

Et Mors ; seu Divum, seu nihil esse velit : 
Nam Sophia Ars ilia est, quas fallere suaviter horas 

Admonet, atque Orci non timuisse minas. 



IMITATED. 

STUDIOUS the busie Moments to deceive, 
That fleet betw^een the Cradle and the Grave, 
I credit vi^hat the Greecian Dictates say, 
And Samian Sounds o'er Scotia's Hills convey. 
When mortal Man resigns his transient Breath ; 
The Body only I give o'er to Death. 
The Parts dissolv'd, and broken Frame I mourn : 
What came from Earth, I see to Earth return. 
The Immaterial Part, th'^thereal Soul, 
Nor can Change vanquish, nor can Death controul. 
Glad I release it from it's Partner's Cares ; 
And bid good Angels waft it to the Stars. 

N 2 19^ 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Then in the flowing Bowl I drown those Sighs, 

Which, Spight of Wisdom, from our Weakness rise. 

The Draught to the Dead's Mem'ry I commend. 

And offer to the now immortal Friend. 

But if oppos'd to what my Thoughts approve, 

Nor Pluto's Rage there be, nor Pow'r of Jove ; 

On it's dark Side if Thou the Prospeft take ; 

Grant all forgot beyond black Lethe's Lake : 

In total Death suppose the Mortal lye, 

No new Hereafter, nor a future Sky : 

Yet bear thy Lot content ; yet cease to grieve : 

Why, e'er Death comes, dost Thou forbear to live ? 

Th° little Time Thou hast, 'twixt Instant Now 

And Fate's Approach, is All the Gods allow : 

And of this little hast Thou ought to spare 

To sad Refle6lion, and corroding Care ? 

The Moments past, if Thou art wise, retrieve 

With pleasant Mem'ry of the Bliss they gave. 

The present Hours in present Mirth imploy ; 

And bribe the Future with the Hopes of Joy. 

The Future (i'ew or more, how e'er they be) 

Were destin'd e'rst; nor can by Fate's Decree 

Be now cut off, betwixt the Grave and Thee. 

THE FIRST 

HYMN 

OF 

CALLIMACHUS. 

TO 

JUPITER. 

WHILE we to Jove seleft the holy Vi6lim ; 
Whom apter shall we sing, than Jove himself, 
The God for ever Great, for ever King ; 
Who slew the Earth-born Race, and measures Right 

196 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

To Heav'n's great Habitants ? Dict^an hear'st Thou 

More joyful, or Lyc^an, long Dispute 

And various Thought has trac'd. On Ida's Mount, 

Or DiCTE, studious of his Country's Praise, 

The Cretan boasts Thy Natal Place : but oft 

He meets Reproof deserv'd : for He presumptuous 

Has built a Tomb for Thee, who never know^'st 

To die, but liv'st the same To-day and Ever. 

Arcadian therefore be Thy Birth : Great Rhea 

Pregnant to hio-h Parrhasia's ClifFs retir'd. 

And vi^ild Lyc^us, black with shading Pines : 

Holy Retreat ! Sithence no Female hither, 

Conscious of Social Love and Nature's Rites, 

Must dare approach, from the inferior Reptile 

To Woman, Form Divine. There the blest Parent 

Ungirt her spacious Bosom, and discharg'd 

The pond'rous Birth : She sought a neighb'ring Spring, 

To wash the recent Babe : In vain : Arcadia, 

(However streamy now) adust and dry, 

Deny'd the Goddess Water : where deep Melas, 

And rocky Cratis flow, the Chariot smoak'd. 

Obscure with rising Dust : the thirsty Trav'ler 

In vain requir'd the Current, then imprison'd 

In subterranean Caverns : Forests grew 

Upon the barren Hollows, high o'ershading 

The Haunts of Savage Beasts, where now Iaon, 

And Erimanth incline their friendly Urns. 

Thou too, O Earth, great Rhea said, bring forth ; 
And short shall be thy Pangs : She said ; and high 
She rear'd her Arm, and with her Scepter struck 
The yawning ClifF: from it's disparted Height 
Adown the Mount the gushing Torrent ran. 
And chear'd the Vallies : There the Heav'nly Mother 
Bath'd, mighty King, Thy tender Limbs : She wrapt them 
In purple Bands : She gave the precious Pledge 
To prudent Neda, charging her to guard Thee, 
Careful and secret : Neda of the Nymphs 
That tended the great Birth, next Philyre 
And Styx, the eldest. Smiling She receiv'd Thee, 

197 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

And conscious of the Grace, absolv'd her Trust : 
Not unrewarded ; since the River bore 
The Fav'rite Virgin's Name : fair Neda rowls 
By Leprion's ancient Walls, a fruitful Stream. 
Fast by her flow'ry Bank the Sons of Arcas, 
Fav'rites of Heav'n, with happy Care prote6l 
Their fleecy Charge ; and joyous drink her Wave. 

Thee, God, to Cnossus Neda brought : the Nymphs 
And CoRVBANTES Thee their sacred Charge 
Receiv'd ; Adraste rock'd Thy golden Cradle : 
The Goat, now bright amidst her fellow-Stars, 
Kind Amalthea, reach'd her Tett distent 
With Milk, Thy early Food : the sedulous Bee 
Distill'd her Honey on Thy purple Lips. 

Around, the fierce Curetes (Order solemn 
To thy foreknowing Mother !) trod tumultuous 
Their Mystic Dance, and clang'd their sounding Arms ; 
Industrious with the warlike Din to quell 
Thy Infant-Cries, and mock the Ear of Saturn. 

Swift Growth and wond'rous Grace, O heav'nly Jove, 
Waited Thy blooming Years : Inventive Wit, 
And perfeft Judgment crown'd Thy youthful At\. 
That Saturn's Sons receiv'd the three-fold Empire 
Of Heav'n, of Ocean, and deep Hell beneath. 
As the dark Urn and Chance of Lot determin'd, 
Old Poets mention, fabling. Things of Moment 
Well nigh equivalent and neighb'ring Value 
By Lot are parted : But high Heav'n, Thy Share, 
In equal Balance laid 'gainst Sea or Hell, 
Flings up the adverse Scale, and shuns Proportion. 
Wherefore not Chance, but Pow'r, above Thy Brethren 
Exalted Thee, their King. When Thy great Will 
Commands Thy Chariot forth ; impetuous Strength, 
And fiery Swiftness wing the rapid Wheels, 
Incessant ; high the Eagle flies before Thee. 
And oh ! as I and mine consult Thy Augur, 
Grant the glad Omen ; let Thy Fav'rite rise 
Propitious, ever soaring from the Right. 

1(^8 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Thou to the lesser Gods hast well assign'd 
Their proper Shares of Pow'r ; Thy own, great JoVE, 
Boundless and universal. Those who labor 
The sweaty Forge, who edge the crooked Scythe, 
Bend stubborn Steel, and harden gleening Armor, 
Acknowledge Vulcan's Aid. The early Hunter 
Blesses Diana's Hand, who leads Him safe 
O'er hanging Cliffs ; who spreads his Net successful, 
And guides the Arrow through the Panther's Heart. 
The Soldier from successful Camps returning, 
With Laurel wreath'd, and rich with hostile Spoil, 
Severs the Bull to Mars. The skilful Bard, 
Striking the Thracian Harp, invokes Apollo, 
To make his Hero and Himself Immortal. 
Those, mighty Jove, mean time. Thy glorious Care, 
Who model Nations, publish Laws, announce 
Or Life or Death, and found or change the Empire. 
Man owns the Pow'r of Kings ; and Kings of JovE. 

And as their Aftions tend subordinate 
To what Thy Will designs. Thou giv'st the Means 
Proportion 'd to the Work ; Thou see'st impartial. 
How They those Means imploy. Each Monarch rules 
His different Realm, accountable to Thee, 
Great Ruler of the World : These only have 
To speak and be obey'd ; to Those are giv'n 
Assistant Days to ripen the Design ; 
To some whole Months ; revolving Years to some : 
Others, ill fated, are condemn'd to toil 
Their tedious Life, and mourn their Purpose blasted 
With fruitless A61, and Impotence of Council. 

Hail ! greatest Son of Saturn, wise Disposer 
Of ev'ry Good : Thy Praise what Man yet born 
Has sung ? or who that may be born shall sing ? 
Again, and often hail ! indulge ovir Prayer, 
Great Father ! grant us Virtue, grant us Wealth : 
For without Virtue, Wealth to Man avails not ; 
And Virtue without Wealth exerts less Pow'r, 
And less diffuses Good. Then grant us. Gracious, 
Virtue, and Wealth ; for both are of Thy Gift. 



199 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
THE SECOND 

HYMN 

OF 
CALLIMACHUS. 

TO 

APOLLO, 

HAH ! how the Laurel, great Apollo's Tree, 
And all the Cavern shakes ! far off, far off, 
The Man that is unhallow'd : for the God, 
The God approaches. Hark ! He knocks : the Gates 
Feel the glad Impulse : and the sever'd Bars 
Submissive clink against their brazen Portals. 
Why do the Delian Palms incline their Boughs, 
Self-mov'd : and hov'ring Swans, their Throats releas'd 
From native Silence, carol Sounds harmonious .'' 

Begin, young Men, the Hymn : let all your Harps 
Break their inglorious Silence ; and the Dance, 
In mystic Numbers trod, explain the Music. 
But hrst by ardent Pray'r, and clear Lustration 
Purge the contagious Spots of Human Weakness : 
Impure no Mortal can behold Apollo. 
So may Ye flourish, favor'd by the God, 
In Youth with happy Nuptials, and in Age 
With silver Hairs, and fair Descent of Children ; 
So lay Foundations for aspiring Cities, 
And bless your spreading Colonies Encrease. 

Pay sacred Rev'rence to Apollo's Song ; 
Lest wrathful the far-shooting God emitt 
His fatal Arrows. Silent Nature stands ; 
And Seas subside, obedient to the Sound 
Of lo, lo Pean ! nor dares Thetis 
Longer bewail Her lov'd Achilles' Death : 

200 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

For Phoebus was his Foe. Nor must sad Niobe 

In fruitless Sorrow persevere, or weep 

Ev'n thro' the Phrygian Marble, Hapless Mother ! 

Whose Fondness cou'd compare her Mortal Off-spring 

To those which fair Latona bore to Jove. 

lo ! again repeat Ye, lo Pean ! 

Against the Deity 'tis hard to strive. 
He that resists the Power of Ptolemy, 
Resists the Pow'r of Heav'n : for Pow'r from Heav'n 
Derives ; and Monarchs rule by Gods appointed. 

Recite Apollo's Praise, 'till Night draws on. 
The Ditty still unfinish'd ; and the Day 
Unequal to the Godhead's Attributes 
Various, and Matter copious of your Songs. 

Sublime at Jove's right Hand Apollo sits, 
And thence distributes Honor, gracious King, 
And Theme of Verse perpetual. From his Robe 
Flows Light ineffable : his Harp, his Quiver, 
And LiCTiAN Bow are Gold : with golden Sandals 
His Feet are shod ; how rich ! how beautiful ! 
Beneath his Steps the yellow Min'ral rises ; 
And Earth reveals her Treasures. Youth and Beauty 
Eternal deck his Cheek : from his fair Head 
Perfumes distill their Sweets ; and chearful Health, 
His dutious Handmaid, thro' the Air improv'd, 
With lavish Hand diffuses Scents Ambrosial. 

The Spear-man's Arm by Thee, great God, diredled, 
Sends forth a certain Wound. The Laurel'd Bard, 
Inspir'd by Thee, composes Verse Immortal. 
Taught by thy Art Divine, the sage Physician 
Eludes the Urn ; and chains, or exiles Death. 

Thee Nomian We adore ; for that from Heav'n 
Descending, Thou on fair Amphrysus' Banks 
Did'st guard Admetus' Herds. Sithence the Cow 
Produc'd an ampler Store of Milk ; the She-Goat 
Not without Pain dragg'd her distended Udder ; 
And Ewes, that erst brought forth but single Lambs, 
Now drop'd their Two-fold Burdens. Blest the Cattle, 
On which Apollo cast his fav'ring Eye ! 

201 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

But, Phoebus, Thou to Man beneficent, 
Delight'st in building Cities. Bright Diana, 
Kind Sister to thy infant-Deity 
New-wean'd, and just arising from the Cradle, 
Brought hunted wild Goats-Heads, and branching Antlers 
Of Stags, The Fruit and Honor of her Toil. 
These with discerning Hand Thou knew'st to range, 
(Young as Thou wast) and in the well-fram'd Models, 
With Emblematic Skill, and mystic Order, 
Thou shew'dst, where Towers, or Battlements should rise ; 
Where gates should open; or where Walls should compass: 
While from thy childish Pastime Man receiv'd 
The future Strength, and Ornament of Nations. 

Battus, our great Progenitor, now touch'd 
The Lybian Strand ; when the fore-boding Crow 
Flew on the Right before the People, marking 
The Country destin'd the auspicious Seat 
Of future Kings, and Favor of the God, 
Whose Oath is sure, and Promise stands Eternal. 

Or Boedromian hear'st Thou pleas'd, or Clarian, 
Phoebus, great King ? for diff'rent are Thy Names, 
As Thy kind Hand has founded many Cities, 
Or dealt benign Thy various Gifts to Man. 
Carnean let Mc call Thee ; for my Country 
Calls Thee Carnean : the fair Colony 
Thrice by Thy gracious Guidance was transported. 
E'er settl'd in Cyrene ; there W'appointed 
Thy annual Feasts, kind God, and bless thy Altars 
Smoakinp; with Hecatombs of slaughter'd Bulls ; 
As Carnus, thy High-Priest, and favor'd Friend, 
Had er'st ordain'd ; and with mysterious Rites, 
Our great Forefathers taught their Sons to worship, 
lo Carnean Phoebus ! lo Pean ! 

The yellow Crocus there, and fair Narcissus 
Reserve the Honors of their Winter-Store, 
To deck Thy Temple ; 'till returning Spring 
Diffuses Nature's various Pride ; and Flow'rs 
Innumerable, by the soft South-west 
Open'd, and gather'd by Religious Hands, 

202 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Rebound their Sweets from th'odorif rous Pavement. 

Perpetual Fires shine hallow 'd on Thy Altars. 

When Annual the Carnean Feast is held, 

The warlike Libyans clad in Armor, lead 

The Dance, with clanging Swords and Shields They beat 

The dreadful Measure : in the Chorus join 

Their Women, Brown but Beautiful : such Rites 

To Thee well-pleasing. Nor had yet Thy Votaries, 

From Greece transplanted, touch'd Gyrene's Banks, 

And Lands determin'd for their last Abodes ; 

But wander'd thro' Azius' horrid Forrest 

Dispers'd ; when from Myrtusa's craggy Brow, 

Fond of the Maid, auspicious to the City, 

Which must hereafter bear her favor'd Name, 

Thou Gracious deign'st to let the Fair One view 

Her Typic People ; Thou with Pleasure taught'st Her 

To draw the Bow, to slay the shaggy Lyon, 

And stop the spreading Ruin of the Plains. 

Happy the Nymph, who honor'd by Thy Passion, 

Was aided by thy Pow'r ! The monstrous Python 

Durst tempt Thy Wrath in vain : for dead He fell. 

To thy great Strength, and golden Arms unequal. 

lo ! while Thy unerring Hand elanc'd 
Another, and another Dart ; The People 
Joyful repeated, lo ! lo Pean ! 
Elance the Dart, Apollo : for the Safety, 
And Health of Man, gracious Thy Mother bore Thee. 

Envy Thy latest Foe suggested thus : 
Like Thee I am a Pow'r Immortal ; therefore 
To Thee dare speak. How can'st Thou favor partial 
Those Poets who write little ? Vast and Great 
Is what I Love: The far extended Ocean 
To a small Riv'let I prefer. Apollo 
Spurn'd Envy with His Foot ; and thus the God : 
D^MON, the head-long Current of Euphrates, 
Assyrian River, copious runs, but Muddy ; 
And carries forward with his stupid Force 
Polluting Dirt ; His Torrent still augmenting, 
His Wave still more defil'd : mean while the Nymphs 

203 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Melissan, Sacred and Recluse to Ceres, 
Studious to have their Off'rings well receiv'd, 
And fit for Heav'nly Use, from little Urns 
Pour Streams sele6l, and Purity of Waters. 

lo ! Apollo, mighty King, let Envy 
Ill-judging and Verbose, from Lethe's Lake 
Draw Tons unmeasurable ; while Thy Favor 
Administers to my ambitious Thirst 
The wholesome Draught from Aganippe's Spring 
Genuine, and with soft Murmurs gently rilling 
Adown the Mountains, where Thy Daughters haunt. 



CHARITY. 

A 
PARAPHRASE 

On the Thii'teenth Chapter of the First Epistle 
TO THE 

CORINTHIANS. 

DID sweeter Sounds adorn my flowing Tongue, 
Than ever Man pronounc'd, or Angel sung : 
Had I all Knowledge, Human and Divine, 
That Thought can reach, or Science can define ; 
And had I Pow'r to give that Knowledge Birth, 
In all the Speeches of the babling Earth : 
Did Shadrach's Zeal my glowing Breast inspire, 
To weary Tortures, and rejoice in Fire : 
Or had I Faith like That which Israel saw. 
When Moses gave them Miracles, and Law : 

204 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Yet, gracious Charity, indulgent Guest, 
Were not Thy Pow'r exerted in my Breast ; 
Those Speeches would send up unheeded Pray'r : 
That Scorn of Life would be but wild Despair : 
A Tymbal's Sound were better than my Voice : 
My Faith were Form : my Eloquence were Noise. 

Charity, decent, modest, easy, kind, 
Softens the high, and rears the abje6l Mind ; 
Knows with just Reins, and gentle Hand to guide, 
Betwixt vile Shame, and arbitrary Pride. 
Not soon provok'd, She easily forgives ; 
And much She suffers, as She much believes. 
Soft Peace She brings where-ever She arrives : 
She builds our Quiet, as She forms our Lives ; 
Lays the rough Paths of peevish Nature ev'n ; 
And opens in each Heart a little Heav'n. 

Each other Gift, which GOD on Man bestows. 
It's proper Bounds, and due Restri6lion knows ; 
To one fixt Purpose dedicates it's Pow'r ; 
And finishing it's A61, exists no more. 
Thus, in Obedience to what Heav'n decrees. 
Knowledge shall fail, and Prophecy shall cease : 
But lasting Charity's more ample Sway, 
Nor bound by Time, nor subjeil to Decay, 
In happy Triumph shall for ever live. 
And endless Good diffuse, and endless Praise receive. 

As thro' the Artist's intervening Glass, 
Our Eye observes the distant Planets pass ; 
A little v/e discover ; but allow. 
That more remains unseen, than Art can show : 
So whilst our Mind it's Knowledge wou'd improve ; 
(It's feeble Eye intent on Things above) 
High as We may. We lift our Reason up. 
By Faith dire6led, and confirm'd by Hope : 
Yet are We able only to survey 
Dawnings of Beams, and Promises of Day. 
Heav'n's fuller Effluence mocks our dazl'd Sight ; 
Too great it's Swiftness, and too strong it's Light. 



205 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

But soon the mediate Clouds shall be dispell'd ; 
The Sun shall soon be Face to Face beheld, 
In all His Robes, with all His Glory on, 
Seated sublime on His Meridian Throne. 

Then constant Faith, and holy Hope shall dye, 
One lost in Certainty, and One in Joy : 
Whilst Thou, more happy Pow'r, fair Charity, 
Triumphant Sister, greatest of the Three, 
Thy Office, and Thy Nature still the same, 
Lasting thy Lamp, and unconsum'd thy Flame, 

Shalt still survive 

Shalt stand before the Host of Heav'n confest, 
For ever blessing, and for ever blest. 



Engraven on a COLUMN 

In the Church of Halstead i7t Essex, 

T^he spire oj which, burnt down by Lightning, was 
rebuilt at the Expense of Mr. Samuel Fiske, 1717. 

VIEW not this Spire by Measure giv'n 
To Buildings rais'd by common Hands : 
That Fabric rises high as Heav'n, 

Whose Bails on Devotion stands. 
While yet We draw this vital Breath, 

We can our Faith and Hope declare : 
But Charity beyond our Death, 

Will ever in our Works appear. 
Best be He call'd among good Men, 

Who to his GOD this Column rais'd : 
Tho' Lightning strike the Dome again ; 

The Man, who built it, shall be prais'd. 
Yet Spires and Towers in Dust shall lye, 

The weak Efforts of Human Pains : 
And Faith, and Hope themselves shall dye j 

While Deathless Charity remains. 
206 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



Written in Montaigne's Essays^ 

Given to the Duke of Shrewsbury in France, 
after the Peace ^ 1713- 

DICTATE, O mighty Judge, what Thou hast seen 
Of Cities, and of Courts, of Books, and Men ; 
And deign to let Thy Servant hold the Pen. 

Thro' Ages thus I may presume to live ; 
And from the Transcript of Thy Prose receive, 
What my own short-liv'd Verse can never give. 

Thus shall fair Britain with a gracious Smile 
Accept the Work ; and the instrufted Isle, 
For more than Treaties made, shall bless my Toil. 

Nor longer hence the Gallic Style preferr'd, 
Wisdom in English Idiom shall be heard ; 
While Talbot tells the World, where Montaigne err'd. 



Jn EPISTLE, 

Desiring the Queen's Picture. 

Written at Paris, i 7 i 4. But left unfinished by the 
sudden News of Her Majesty's Death. 

THE Train of Equipage and Pomp of State, 
The shining Side-board, and the burnish'd Plate 
Let other Ministers, Great Anne, require ; 
And partial fall Thy Gift to their Desire. 
To the fair Portrait of my Sov'reign Dame, 
To That alone, eternal be my Claim. 

207 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

My bright Defender, and my dread Delight, 
If ever I found Favor in Thy Sight ; 
If all the Pains that for Thy Britain's Sake 
My past has took, or future Life may take, 
Be grateful to my Queen ; permit my Pray'r, 
And with This Gift reward my total Care. 

Will Thy indulgent Hand, fair Saint, allow 
The Boon ? and will Thy Ear accept the Vow ? 
That in despight of Age, of impious Flame, 
And eating Time, Thy Picture like Thy Fame 
Entire may last ; that as their Eyes survey 
The semblant Shade, Men yet unborn may say ; 
Thus Great, thus Gracious look'd Britannia's Qiieen ; 
Her Brow thus smooth. Her Look was thus serene ; 
When to a Low, but to a Loyal Hand 
The mighty Empress gave Her high Command, 
That He to Hostile Camps, and Kings shou'd haste, 
To speak Her Vengeance as Their Danger past ; 
To say, She Wills detested Wars to cease ; 
She checks Her Conquest, for Her Subjects Ease ; 
And bids the World attend Her Terms of Peace. 

Thee, Gracious Anne, Thee present I adore, 

Thee, Ql'een of Peace If Time and Fate have Pow'r 

Higher to raise the Glories of thy Reign ; 

In Words sublimer, and a nobler Strain, 

May future Bards the mighty Theme rehearse. 

Here, Stator Jove, and Phoebus King of Verse, 

The Votive Tablet I suspend * * * * 



208 



ALMA: 

OR, THE 

PROGRESS 

OF THE 

MIND. 

In Three Cantos. 



UdvTa yeXftJS, koI TrdvTa k6vl<?, Kal iravra to /xr/Sev 
UdpTa yap i^ dkoycou earl rd yiyvo^eva. 

Incert. ap. Stob[ae]um. 



p. 



209 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



THE 
FIRST CANTO. 



MATTHEW met Richard ; when or where 
From Story is not mighty clear : 
Of many knotty Points They spoke ; 
And Pro and Con by turns They took. 
Ratts half the Manuscript have eat : 
Dire Hunger ! which We still regret : 
O ! may they ne'er again digest 
The Horrors of so sad a Feast. 
Yet less our Grief, if what remains, 
Dear Jacob, by thy Care and Pains 
Shall be to future Times convey'd. 
It thus begins : 

* * * * Here Matthew said : 

Alma in Verse ; in Prose, the Mind, 
By Aristotle's Pen defin'd, 
Throughout the Body squat or tall, 
Is, bond fide^ All in All. 
And yet, slap dash, is All again 
In every Sinew, Nerve, and Vein. 
Runs here and there, like Hamlet's Ghost ; 
While every where She rules the roast. 

This System^ Richard, We are told. 
The Men of Oxford firmly hold. 
The Cambridge Wits, You know, deny 
With Ipse dixit to comply. 
They say (for in good truth They speak 
With small Respe6t of that old Greek) 
That, putting all his Words together, 
'Tis Three blew Beans in One blew Bladder. 



210 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Alma, They strenuously maintain, 
Sits Cock-horse on Her Throne, the Brain ; 
And from that Seat of Thought dispenses 
Her Sov'reign Pleasure to the Senses. 
Two Optic Nerves, They say, She tyes, 
Like Spectacles, a-cross the Eyes ; 
By which the Spirits bring her Word, 
Whene'er the Balls are fix'd, or stirr'd ; 
How quick at Park and Play they strike ; 
The Duke they court ; the Toast they like ; 
And at S'^ James's turn their Grace 
From former Friends, now out of Place. 

Without these Aids, to be more serious, 
Her Pow'r, They hold, had been precarious : 
The Eyes might have conspir'd her Ruin ; 
And She not known, what They were doing. 
Foolish it had been, and unkind. 
That They shou'd see, and She be blind. 

Wise Nature likewise. They suppose. 
Has drawn two Conduits down our Nose : 
Cou'd Alma else with Judgment tell. 
When Cabbage stinks, or Roses smell ? 
Or who wou'd ask for her Opinion 
Between an Oyster^ and an Onion ? 
For from most Bodies, Dick, You know, 
Some little Bits ask Leave to flow ; 
And, as thro* these Canals They roll, 
Bring up a Sample of the Whole. 
Like Footmen running before Coaches, 
To tell the Inn, what Lord approaches. 

By Nerves about our Palate plac'd. 
She likewise judges of the Taste. 
Else (dismal Thought !) our Warlike Men 
Might drink thick Port for fine Champagne ; 
And our ill-judging Wives and Daughters 
Mistake Small-beer for Citron-WzlQxs. 

o 2 211 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Hence too, that She might better hear, 
She sets a Drum at either Ear ; 
And Loud or Gentle, Harsh or Sweet, 
Arc but xK Alarums which They beat. 

Last, to enjoy her Sense of Feeling 
(A thing She much delights to deal in) 
A thousand little Nerves She sends 
Quite to our Toes, and Fingers Ends; 
And These in Gratitude again 
Return their Spirits to the Brain ; 
In which their Figure being printed 
(As just before, Tthink, I hinted) 
Alma inform'd can try the Case, 
As She had been upon the Place. 

Thus, while the Judge gives diff'rent Journeys 
To Country Counsel, and Attornies ; 
He on the Bench in quiet sits, 
Deciding, as They bring the Writs. 
The Pope thus prays and sleeps at Rome, 
And very seldom stirs from Home : 
Yet sending forth his Holy Spies, 
And having heard what They advise, 
He rules the Church's blest Dominions ; 
And sets Men's Faith by His Opinions. 

The Scholars of the Stagvrite, 
Who for the Old Opinion fight, 
Would make their Modern Friends confess, 
The diff'rence but from More to Less. 
The Mind, say They, while You sustain 
To hold her Station in the Brain ; 
You grant, at least. She is extended: 
Ergo the whole Dispute is ended. 
For, 'till To-morrow shou'd You plead 
From Form and Structure of the Head ; 
The Mind as visibly is seen 
Extended thro' the whole Machine.^ 
Why shou'd all Honor then be ta'en 
From Lower Parts to load the Brain ; 
When other Limbs we plainly see, 



212 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Each in his way, as brisk as He ? 

For Music, grant the Head receives it ; 

It is the Artist's Hand that gives it. 

And tho' the Scull may wear the Laurel ; 

The Soldier's Arm sustains the Quarrel. 

Besides, the Nostrils, Ears, and Eyes 

Are not his Parts, but his Allies. 

Ev'n what You hear the Tongue proclaim. 

Comes ah Origine from them. 

What could the Head perform Alone, 

If all Their friendly Aids were gone ? 

A foolish figure He must make ; 

Do nothing else, but sleep and ake. 

Nor matters it, that You can show, 
How to the Head that Spirits go. 
Those Spirits started from some Goal, 
Before they thro' the Veins cou'd roll. 
Now We shou'd hold Them much to blame, 
If They went back, before They came. 

If therefore, as We must suppose. 
They came from Fingers, and from Toes ; 
Or Toes, or Fingers, in this Case, 
Of Num-scuWs Self shou'd take the Place. 
Disputing fair. You grant thus much. 
That all Sensation is but Touch. 
Dip but your Toes into cold Water ; 
Their Correspondent Teeth will chatter : 
And strike the Bottom of your Feet ; 
You set your Head into a Heat. 
The Bully beat, and happy Lover 
Confess, that Feeling lies all over. 

Note here, Lucretius dares to teach 
(As all our Youth may learn from Creech) 
That Eyes were made, but cou'd not view ; 
Nor Hands embrace, nor Feet pursue : 
But heedless Nature did produce 
The Members first, and then the Use. 
What Each must a61:, was yet unknown, 
'Till All is mov'd by Chance alone. 

213 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

A Man first builds a Country Seat ; 
Then finds the Walls not good to eat. 
Another plants, and wond'ring sees 
Nor Books, nor Medals on his Trees. 
Yet Poet and Philosopher 
Was He, who durst such Whims aver. 
Blest, for his Sake, be human Reason, 
That came at all, tho' late, in Season. 

But no Man sure e'er left his House, 
And saddl'd Ball^ with Thoughts so wild, 
To bring a Midwife to his Spouse, 
Before He knew She was with Child. 
And no Man ever reapt his Corn, 
Or from the Oven drew his Bread, 
E'er Hinds and Bakers yet were born. 
That taught him both to Sow, and Knead. 
Before They're ask'd, can Maids refuse ? 

Can Pray, says Dick, hold in your Muse. 

While You Pindaric Truths rehearse ; 
She hobbles in Alternate Verse. 
Verse ? Mat. reply'd : is that my Care .'' 
Go on, quoth Richard, soft and fair. 

This looks, friend Dick, as Nature had 
But exercis'd the Salesman's Trade : 
As if She haply had sat down. 
And cut out Cloaths for all the Town ; 
Then sent them out to Afonmouth-Stveet, 
To try, what Persons they wou'd fit. 
But ev'ry Free and Licenc'd Taylor 
Would in this Thesis find a Failure. 
Should Whims like these his Head perplex, 
How could he work for either Sex ? 
His Cloaths, as Atonies might prevail, 
Might fit a Pismire, or a Whale. 
No, no : He views with studious Pleasure 
Your Shape, before He takes your Measure, 
For real Kate He made the Boddice, 
And not for an Ideal Goddess. 



214 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

No Error near his Shop-board lurk'd : 
He knew the Folks for whom He work'd. 
Still to Their Size He aim'd his Skill : 
Else, pr'ythee, who wou'd pay his Bill ? 

Next, Dick, if Chance her self shou'd vary ; 
Observe, how Matters would miscarry : 
Across your Eyes, Friend, place your Shoes ; 
Your Spectacles upon your Toes : 
Then You and Memmius shall agree. 
How nicely Men would walk, or see. 

But Wisdom, peevish and cross-grain'd. 
Must be oppos'd, to be sustain'd. 
And still your Knowledge will increase, 
As You make other People's less. 
In Arms and Science 'tis the same : 
Our Rival's Hurts create our Fame. 
At Faubert's if Disputes arise 
Among the Champions for the Prize ; 
To prove, who gave the fairer Butt, 
John shows the Chalk on Robert's Coat. 
So, for the Honor of your Book, 
It tells, where other Folks mistook : 
And, as their Notions You confound, 
Those You invent get farther Ground. 

The Commentators on old Ari- 
stotle ('tis urg'd) in Judgment vary : 
They to their own Conceits have brought 
The Image of his general Thought. 
Just as the Melancholic Eye 
Sees Fleets and Armies in the Sky ; 
And to the poor Apprentice Ear 
The Bells sound Whittington Lord May'r. 
The Conj'rer thus explains his Scheme 
Thus Spirits walk, and Prophets dream : 
North Britons thus have Second Sight ; 
And Germans free from Gunshot fight. 

Theodoret, and Origen, 
And fifty other Learned Men 



215 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Attest, that if their Comments find 

The Traces of their Master's Mind ; 

Alma can ne'er decay nor dye : 

This flatly t'other Se6l deny, 

SiMPLicius, Theophrast, Durand ; 

Great Names, but hard in Verse to stand. 

They wonder Men should have mistook 

The Teneh of their Master's Boole ; 

And hold, that Alma yields her Breath, 

O'ercome by Age, and seiz'd by Death. 

Now which were Wise \ and which were Fools ? 

Poor Alma sits between two Stools : 

The more She reads, the more perplext ; 

The Comment ruining the Text : 

Now fears, now hopes her doubtful Fate : 

But, Richard, let her look to That 

Whilst We our own Affairs pursue. 

These diff'rent Systems, Old or New, 
A Man with half an Eye may see, 
Were only form'd to disagree. 
Now to bring Things to fair Conclusion, 
And save much Christian Ink's Effusion ; 
Let me propose an Healing Schetncy 
And sail along the Middle Stream : 
For, Dick, if We could reconcile 

Old Aristotle with Gassendus ; 
How many would admire our Toil ; 

And yet how few would comprehend us ? 

Here, Richard, let my Scheme commence. 
Oh ! may my Words be lost in Sense ; 
While pleas'd Thalia deigns to write 
The Slips and Bounds of Alma's Flight. 

My simple System shall suppose, 
That Alma enters at the Toes ; 
That then She mounts by just Degrees 
Up to the Ancles, Legs, and Knees: 
Next, as the Sap of Life does rise. 
She lends her Vigor to the Thighs : 



2l6 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And, all these under-Regions past, 
She nestles somewhere near the Waste : 
Gives Pain or Pleasure, Grief or Laughter ; 
As We shall show at large hereafter. 
Mature, if not improv'd, by Time 
Up to the Heart She loves to climb : 
From thence, compell'd by Craft and Age, 
She makes the Head her latest Stage. 

From the Feet upward to the Head ; 
Pithy, and short, says Dick : proceed. 

Dick, this is not an idle Notion : 
Observe the Progress of the Motion. 
First I demonstratively prove, 
That Feet were only made to move ; 
And Legs desire to come and go : 
For they have nothing else to do. 

Hence, long before the Child can crawl. 
He learns to kick, and wince, and sprawl : 
To hinder which, your Midwife knows 
To bind Those Parts extremely close ; 
Lest Alma newly enter'd in. 
And stunn'd at her own Christ'ning's Din, 
Fearful of future Grief and Pain, 
Should silently sneak out again. 
P'ull piteous seems young Alma's Case : 
As in a luckless Gamester's Place, 
She would not play, yet must not pass. 

Again as She grows something stronger. 
And Master's Feet are swath'd no longer, 
If in the Night too oft He kicks. 
Or shows his Loco-motive Tricks ; 
These first Assaults fat Kate repays Him, 
When half asleep She overlays Him. 

Now mark. Dear Richard, from the Age 
That Children tread this Worldly Stage, 
Broom-staff or Poaker they bestride. 
And round the Parlor love to ride ; 



217 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

'Till thoughtful Father's pious Care 
Provides his Brood, next Smithfield Fair, 
With Supplemental Hobby-Horses : 
And happy be their Infant Courses I 

Hence for some Years they ne'er stand still : 
Their Legs, You see, direct their Will. 
From opening Morn 'till setting Sun, 
A-round the Fields and Woods They run : 
They frisk, and dance, and leap, and play ; 
Nor heed, what Friend or Snape can say. 

To Her next Stage as Alma flies, 
And likes, as I have said, the Thighs : 
With Sympathetic Pov^^'r She warms. 
Their good Allies and Friends, the Arms. 
While Betty dances on the Green ; 
And Susan is at Stool-ball seen : 
While John for Nine-pins does declare ; 
And Roger loves to pitch the Bar ; 
Both Legs and Arms spontaneous move : 
Which was the Thing I meant to prove. 

Another Motion now She makes : 
O need I name the Seat She takes ? 
His Thought quite chang'd the Stripling finds ; 
The Sport and Race no more He minds : 
Negledted Tray and Pointer lye ; 
And Covies unmolested fly. 
Sudden the jocund Plain He leaves ; 
And for the Nymph in Secret grieves. 
In dying Accents He complains 
Of cruel Fires, and raging Pains. 
The Nymph too longs to be alone ; 
Leaves all the Swains ; and sighs for One. 
The Nymph is warm'd with young Desire ; 
And feels, and dies to quench His Fire. 
They meet each Evening in the Grove : 
Their Parley but augments their Love. 
So to the Priest their Case They tell : 
He ties the Knot ; and all goes well. 



2i8 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

But, O my Muse, just Distance keep: 
Thou art a Maid, and must not peep. 
In nine Months Time the Boddice loose, 
And Petticoats too short, disclose. 
That at This Age the aftive Mind 
About the Waste lies most confin'd ; 
And that young Life, and quick'ning Sense 
Spring from His Influence darted thence. 
So from the Middle of the World 
The Sun's prolifick Rays are hurl'd : 
'Tis from That Seat He darts those Beams, 
Which quicken Earth with genial Flames. 

Dick, who thus long had passive sat. 
Here stroak'd his Chin, and cock'd his Hat ; 
Then slapp'd his Hand upon the Board ; 
And thus the Youth put in his Word. 
Love's Advocates, sweet Sir, would find Him 
A higher Place, than You assign'd Him. 

Love's Advocates, Dick, who are those ? 

The Poets, You may well suppose. 

I'm sorry, Sir, You have discarded 

The Men, with whom 'till now You herded. 

Prose-Men alone, for private Ends, 

I thought, forsook their ancient Friends. 

In cor stillavit^ crys Lucretius ; 

If He may be allow'd to teach Us. 

The self-same Thing soft Ovid says 

(A proper Judge in such a Case.) 

Horace his Phrase is torret Jecur ; 

And happy was that curious Speaker. 

Here Virgil too has plac'd this Passion : 

What signifies too long Quotation .? 

In Ode and Epic plain the Case is. 

That Love holds One of these Two Places. 

Dick, without Passion or Reflection, 
I'll strait demolish this Objection. 

First Poets, all the World agrees, 
Write half to profit, half to please. 



219 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Matter and Figure They produce ; 

For Garnish This, and That for Use ; 

And, in the Structure of their Feasts, 

They seek to feed, and please their Guests : 

But One may balk this good Intent, 

And take Things otherwise than meant. 

Thus, if You Dine with my Lord May'r, 

Roast-Beef, and Ven'son is your Fare ; 

Thence You proceed to Swan, and Bustard, 

And persevere in Tart, and Custard : 

But 'Tulip-leaves^ and Limon-peel 

Help only to adorn the Meal ; 

And painted Flags, superb and neat, 

Proclaim You welcome to the Treat. 

The Man of Sense his Meat devours ; 

But only smells the Peel, and Flow'rs : 

And He must be an idle Dreamer, 

Who leaves the Pie, and gnaws the Streamer. 

That Cupid goes with Bow and Arrows, 
And Venus keeps her Coach and Sparrows, 
Is all but Emblem, to acquaint One, 
The Son is sharp, the Mother wanton. 
Such Images have sometimes shown 
A Mystic Sense, but oft'ner None. 
For who conceives, what Bards devise, 
That Heav'n is plac'd in Celia's Eyes } 
Or where's the Sense, direft or moral. 
That Teeth are Pearl, or Lips are Coral ? 

Your Horace owns, He various writ. 
As wild, or sober Maggots bit : 
And, where too much the Poet ranted. 
The Sage Philosopher recanted. 
His grave Epistles may disprove 
The wanton Odes He made to Love. 

Lucretius keeps a mighty Pother 
With Cupid, and his fancy'd Mother : 
Calls her great Queen of Earth and Air ; 
Declares, that Winds and Seas obey Her j 



220 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And, while Her Honor he rehearses, 
Implores Her to inspire his Verses. 

Yet, free from this Poetic Madness ; 
Next Page, He says in sober Sadness, 
That She and all her fellow-Gods 
Sit idling in their high Abodes, 
Regardless of this World below. 
Our Health or Hanging, Weal or Woe ; 
Nor once disturb their Heav'nly Spirits 
With Scapin's Cheats, or Cesar's Merits. 

Nor e'er can Latin Poets prove, 
Where lies the real Seat of Love. 
Jecur they burn, and Cor they pierce. 
As either best supplies their Verse : 
And, if Folks ask the Reason for't. 
Say, one was long, and t'other short. 
Thus, I presume, the British Muse, 
May take the Freedom Strangers use. 
In Prose our Property is greater : 
Why should it then be less in Metre ? 
If Cupid throws a single Dart ; 
We make him wound the Lover's Heart : 
But if He takes his Bow, and Quiver ; 
'Tis sure, He must transfix the Liver : 
For Rhime with Reason may dispense ; 
And Sound has Right to govern Sense. 

But let your Friends in Verse suppose, 
What ne'er shall be allow'd in Prose : 
Anatomists can make it clear, 
The Liver minds his own Affair : 
Kindly supplies our publick Uses ; 
And parts, and strains the Vital Juices : 
Still lays some useful Bile aside, 
To tinge the Chyle's insipid Tide : 
Else We should want both Gibe and Satyr ; 
And all be burst with pure Good-nature. 
Now Gall is bitter with a Witness ; 
And Love is all Delight and Sweetness. 

221 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

My Logic then has lost it's Aim, 
If Sweet and Bitter be the same : 
And He, methinks, is no great Scholar, 
Who can mistake Desire for Choler. 

The like may of the Heart be said : 
Courage and Terror there are bred. 
All those, whose Hearts are loose and low. 
Start, if they hear but the Tattoo : 
And mighty Physical their Fear is : 
For, soon as Noise of Combat near is, 
Their Heart, descending to their Breeches, 
Must give their Stomach cruel twitches. 
But Heroes who o'ercome or dye, 
Have their Hearts hung extremely high ; 
The Strings of which, in Battel's Heat, 
Against their very Corslets beat ; 
Keep Time with their own Trumpet's Measure ; 
And yield 'em most excessive Pleasure. 

Now if 'tis chiefly in the Heart, 
That Courage does it self exert ; 
'Twill be prodigious hard to prove, 
That This is eke the Throne of Love. 
Would Nature make One Place the Seat 
Of fond Desire, and fell Debate ? 
Must People only take Delight in 
Those Hours, when They are tir'd with Fighting ? 
And has no Man, but who has kill'd 
A Father, right to get a Child ? 
These Notions then I think but idle : 
And Love shall still possess the Middle. 

This Truth more plainly to discover, 
Suppose your Hero were a Lover. 
Tho' He before had Gall and Rage, 
Which Death, or Conquest must asswage ; 
He grows dispirited and low : 
He hates the Fight, and shuns the Foe. 

In scornful Sloth Achilles slept ; 
And for his Wench, like Tall-boy, wept : 

222 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Nor would return to War and Slaughter ; 

'Till They brought back the Parson's Daughter. 

Antonius fled from Actium's Coast, 
Augustus pressing, Asia lost : 
His Sails by Cupid's Hand unfurl'd, 
To keep the Fair, he gave the World. 

Edward our Fourth, rever'd and crown'd, 
Vig'rous in Youth, in Arms renown'd ; 
While England's Voice, and Warwick's Care 
Design'd him Gallia's beauteous Heir ; 
Chang'd Peace and Pow'r for Rage and Wars, 
Only to dry One Widow's Tears. 

France's fourth Henry we may see, 
A Servant to the fair d'Estree ; 
When quitting Coutras prosp'rous Field, 
And Fortune taught at length to yield, 
He from his Guards and Mid-night Tent, 
Disguis'd o'er Hills and Vallies went. 
To wanton with the sprightly Dame ; 
And in his Pleasure lost his Fame. 

Bold is the Critic, who dares prove, 
These Heroes were no Friends to Love ; 
And bolder He, who dares aver. 
That they were Enemies to War. 
Yet, when their Thought should, now or never, 
Have rais'd their Heart, or fir'd their Liver ; 
Fond Alma to those Parts was gone, 
Which Love more justly calls his own. 

Examples I could cite You more ; 
But be contented with these Four : 
For when One's Proofs are aptly chosen ; 
Four are as valid as four Dozen. 
One came from Greece, and one from Rome j 
The other Two grew nearer Home. 
For some in Antient Books delight : 
Others prefer what Moderns write : 
Now I should be extremely loath. 
Not to be thought expert in Both. 

223 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



THE 
SECOND CANTO. 



BUT shall we take the Muse abroad, 
To drop her idly on the Road ? 
And leave our Subjed: in the middle ; 
As Butler did his Bear and Fiddle ? 
Yet He, consummate Master, knew 
When to recede, and where pursue : 
His noble Negligences teach, 
What Others Toils despair to reach. 
He, perfe6l Dancer, climbs the Rope, 
And balances your Fear and Hope : 
If after some distinguish'd Leap, 
He drops his Pole, and seems to slip ; 
Straight gath'ring all his active Strength, 
He rises higher half his Length. 
With Wonder You approve his Slight ; 
And owe your Pleasure to your Fright. 
But, like poor Andrew, I advance, 
False Mimic of my Master's Dance : 
A-round the Cord a while I sprawl ; 
And thence, tho' low, in earnest fall. 

My Preface tells You, I digress'd : 
He's half absolv'd who has confess'd. 

I like, quoth Dick, your Simi/e : 
And in Return, take Two from Me. 
As Masters in the Clare-obscure^ 
With various Light your Eyes allure : 
A flaming Yellow here They spread ; 
Draw ofF in Blew, or charge in Red : 
Yet from these Colors odly mix'd, 
Your Sight upon the Whole is fix'd. 



224 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Or as, again, your Courtly Dames, 

(Whose Cloaths returning Birth-Day claims,) 

By Arts improve the StufFs they vary ; 

And Things are best, as most contrary. 

The Gown with stiff Embroid'ry shining. 

Looks charming with a slighter Lining : 

The Out-, if Indian Figures stain ; 

The In-side must be rich and plain. 

So You, great Authors, have thought fit. 

To make Digression temper Wit : 

When Arguments too fiercely glare ; 

You calm 'em with a milder Air : 

To break their Points, You turn their Force ; 

And Furbelow the plain Discourse. 

Richard, quoth Mat, these Words of Thine, 
Speak something sly, and something fine : 
But I shall e'en resume my Theme ; 
However Thou may'st praise, or blame. 

As People marry now, and settle ; 
Fierce Love abates his usual Mettle : 
Worldly Desires, and Household Cares 
Disturb the Godhead's soft Affairs : 
So now, as Health or Temper changes, 
In larger Compass Alma ranges, 
This Day below, the next above ; 
As light, or solid Whimsies move. 
So Merchant has his House in Town, 
And Country-Seat near Bansted Down : 
From One he dates his Foreign Letters, 
Sends out his Goods, and duns his Debtors : 
In t'other, at his Hours of Leisure, 
He smokes his Pipe, and takes his Pleasure. 

And now your Matrimonial Cupid, 
Lash'd on by Time, grows tir'd and stupid. 
For Story and Experience tell Us, 
That Man grows cold, and Woman jealous. 
Both would their little Ends secure : 
He sighs for Freedom, She for Pow'r. 

P. p 225 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

His Wishes tend abroad to roam ; 

And Her's, to domineer at Home. 

Thus Passion flags by slow Degrees ; 

And ruffl'd more, delighted less, 

The busy Mind does seldom go 

To those once charming Seats below : 

But, in the Breast incamp'd, prepares 

For well-bred Feints, and future Wars. 

The Man suspedls his Lady's crying 

(When he last Autumn lay a-dying) 

Was but to gain him to appoint Her 

By Codicil a larger Jointure. 

The Woman finds it all a Trick, 

That He could swoon, when She was sick ; 

And knows, that in That Grief he reckon'd 

On black-ey'd Susan for his Second. 

Thus having strove some tedious Years 
With feign'd Desires, and real Fears ; 
And tir'd with Answers, and Replies, 
Of John affirms, and Martha lies ; 
Leaving this endless Altercation, 
The Mind affefts a higher Station. 

PoLTis, that gen'rous King of Thrace, 
I think, was in this very Case. 
All Asia now was by the Ears : 
And Gods beat up for Voluntiers 
To Greece, and Troy; while Poltis sat 
In Quiet, governing his State. 
And whence, said the Pacific King, 
Does all this Noise, and Discord spring ? 

Why, Paris took Atrides' Wife 

With Ease I could compose this Strife : 
The injur'd Hero should not lose. 
Nor the young Lover want a Spouse ; 
But Helen chang'd her first Condition, 
Without her Husband's just Permission. 
What from the Dame can Paris hope ? 
She may as well from Him elope. 
Again, how can her old Good-man 



226 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

With Honor take Her back again ? 
From hence I logically gather, 
The Woman cannot live with Either. 
Now I have Two right honest Wives, 
For whose Possession No Man strives : 
One to Atrides I will send ; 
And t'other to my Trojan Friend. 
Each Prince shall thus with Honor have. 
What Both so warmly seem to crave : 
The Wrath of Gods and Man shall cease ; 
And PoLTis live and die in Peace. 

Dick, if this Story pleaseth Thee, 
Pray thank Dan Pope, who told it Me. 

Howe'er swift Alma's Flight may vary ; 
(Take this by way of Corollary :) 
Some Limbs She finds the very same, 

In Place, and Dignity, and Name : v. 

These dwell at such convenient Distance, 
That each may give his Friend Assistance. 
Thus He who runs or dances, begs 
The equal Vigor of Two Legs : 
So much to both does Alma trust. 
She ne'er regards, which goes the first. 
Teague could make neither of them stay. 
When with Himself he ran away. 
The Man who struggles in the Fight, 
Fatigues left Arm, as well as right : 
For whilst one Hand exalts the Blow, 
And on the Earth extends the Foe ; 
T'other would take it wond'rous ill. 
If in your Pocket He lay still. 
And when you shoot, and shut one Eye, 
You cannot think, He would deny 
To lend the t'other friendly Aid, 
Or wink, as Coward, and affraid. 
No, Sir ; whilst He withdraws his Flame, 
His Comrade takes the surer Aim. 
One Moment if his Beams recede ; 
As soon as e'er the Bird is dead, 

P2 227 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Opening again, He lays his Claim, 
To half the Profit, half the Fame, 
And helps to Pocket up the Game. 
'Tis thus, One Tradesman slips away, 
To give his Part'ner fairer Play. 

Some Limbs again in Bulk or Stature 
Unlike, and not a-kin by Nature, 
In Concert a6t, like modern Friends ; 
Because one serves the t'other's Ends. 
The Arm thus w^aits upon the Heart, 
So quick to take the Bully's Part, 
That one, tho' warm, decides more slow. 
Than t'other executes the Blow. 
A Stander-by may chance to have it, 
E'er Hack himself perceives. He gave it. 

The am'rous Eyes thus always go 
A-stroling for their Friends below : 
For long before the 'Squire and Dame 
Have tete a tete reliev'd their Flame ; 
E'er Visits yet are brought about. 
The Eye by Sympathy looks out ; 
Knows Florimel, and longs to meet Her ; 
And, if He sees, is sure to greet Her, 
Tho' at Sash-Window, on the Stairs, 
At Court, nay (Authors say) at Pray'rs. 



The Funeral of some valiant Knight 
May give this Thing it's proper Light. 
View his Two Gantlets : these declare, 
That Both his Hands were us'd to War. 
And from his Two gilt Spurs 'tis learn 'd. 
His Feet were equally concern'd. 
But have You not with Thought beheld 
The Sword hang dangling o'er the Shield ? 
Which shows the Breast, That Plate was us'd to, 
Had an Ally right Arm to trust to. 
And by the Peep-holes in his Crest, 
Is it not virtually confest. 
That there his Eye took distant Aim, 



228 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And glanc'd Respe6l to that bright Dame, 
In whose Delight his Hope was center'd, 
And for whose Glove his Life he ventur'd ? 

Obje6lions to my general System 
May 'rise, perhaps, and I have mist them : 
But I can call to my Assistance 
Proximity (mark that !) and Distance : 
Can prove, that all Things, on Occasion, 
Love Union, and desire Adhesion ; 
That Alma merely is a Scale ; 
And Motives, like the Weights, prevail. 
If neither Side turn down or up. 
With Loss or Gain, with Fear or Hope ; 
The Balance always would hang ev'n, 
Like Mah'met's Tomb, 'twixt Earth and Heav'n. 

This, Richard, is a curious Case : 
Suppose your Eyes sent equal Rays 
Upon two distant Pots of Ale, 
Not knowing, which was Mild or Stale : 
In this sad State your doubtful Choice 
Would never have the casting Voice : 
Which Best, or Worst, You could not think ; 
And die You must, for want of Drink : 
Unless some Chance inclines your Sight, 
Setting one Pot in fairer Light ; 
Then You prefer or A, or B, 
As Lines and Angles best agree : 
Your Sense resolv'd impells your Will ; 
She guides your Hand, So drink your Fill. 

Have you not seen a Baker's Maid 
Between two equal Panniers sway'd ? 
Her Tallies useless lie, and idle. 
If plac'd exactly in the Middle : 
But forc'd from this una6live State, 
By virtue of some casual Weight ; 
On either Side You hear 'em clatter. 
And judge of right and left-hand Matter, 



229 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Now, Richard, this coercive Force, 
Without your Choice, must take it's Course. 
Great Kings to Wars are pointed forth, 
Like loaded Needles to the North. 
And Thou and I, by Pow'r unseen. 
Are barely Passive, and suck'd in 
To Renault's Vaults, or Celia's Chamber, 
As Straw and Paper are by Amber. 
If we sit down to play or set 
(Suppose at Ombre or Basset) 
Let People call us Cheats, or Fools ; 
Our Cards and We are equal Tools. 
We sure in vain the Cards condemn : 
Our selves both cut and shuffl'd them. 
In vain on Fortune's Aid rely : 
She only is a Stander-by. 
Poor Men ! poor Papers ! We and They 
Do some impulsive Force obey; 

And are but play'd with : Do not play. 

But Space and Matter we should blame : 
They palm'd the Trick that lost the Game. 

Thus to save further Contradidlion, 
Against what You may think but Fiftion ; 
I for Attraction, Dick, declare : 
Deny it those bold Men that dare. 
As well your Motion, as your Thought 
Is all by hidden Impulse wrought : 
Ev'n saying, that You Think or Walk, 
How like a Country 'Squire you talk ? 

Mark then ; Where Fancy or Desire 

Collects the Beams of Vital Fire ; 
Into that Limb fair Alma slides, 
And there, pro tempore^ resides. 
She dwells in Nicholini's Tongue, 
When Pyrrhus chants the Heav'nly Song. 
When Pedro does the Lute command, 
She guides the cunning Artist's Hand. 
Thro' Macer's Gullet she runs down. 
When the vile Glutton dines alone. 



230 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And void of Modesty and Thought, 
She follows BiBo's endless Draught. 
Thro' the soft Sex again She ranges ; 
As Youth, Caprice, or Fashion changes. 
Fair Alma careless and serene, 
In Fanny's sprightly Eyes is seen ; 
While they diffuse their Infant Beams, 
Themselves not conscious of their Flames. 
Again fair Alma sits confest, 
On Florimel's experter Breast ; 
When She the rising Sigh constrains. 
And by concealing speaks her Pains. 
In Cynthia's Neck fair Alma glows ; 
When the vain Thing her Jewels shows : 
When Jenny's Stays are newly lac'd, 
Fair Alma plays about her Waste ; 
And when the swelling Hoop sustains 
The rich Brocard, fair Alma deigns 
Into that lower Space to enter, 
Of the large Round, Her self the Center. 

Again : That Single Limb or Feature 
(Such is the cogent Force of Nature) 
Which most did Alma's Passion move, 
In the first Objeft of her Love, 
For ever will be found confest. 
And printed on the am'rous Breast. 

O Abelard, ill-fated Youth, 
Thy Tale will justify this Truth : 
But well I weet, thy cruel Wrong 
Adorns a nobler Poet's Song. 
Dan Pope for thy Misfortune griev'd. 
With kind Concern, and Skill has weav'd 
A silken Web ; and ne'er shall fade 
It's Colors : gently has He laid 
The Mantle o'er thy sad Distress : 
And Venus shall the Texture bless. 
He o'er the weeping Nun has drawn, 
Such artful Folds of Sacred Lawn, 



231 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

That Love with equal Grief and Pride, 

Shall see the Crime, He strives to hide : 

And softly drawing back the Veil, 

The God shall to his Vot'ries tell 

Each conscious Tear, each blushing Grace, 

That deck'd Dear Eloisa's Face. 

Happy the Poet, blest the Lays, 
Which Buckingham has deign'd to praise. 

Next, Dick, as Youth and Habit sways, 
A hundred Gambols Alma plays. 
If, whilst a Boy, Jack run from Schole, 
Fond of his Hvmting-horn, and Pole ; 
Tho' Gout and Age his Speed detain. 
Old John halloo's his Hounds again. 
By his Fire-side he starts the Hare ; 
And turns Her in his Wicker-Chair : 
His Feet, however lame, You find, 
Have got the better of his Mind. 

If while the Mind was in her Leg, 
The Dance affedted nimble Peg ; 
Old Madge, bewitch'd at Sixty one, 
Calls for Green Sleeves^ and ^Jumping Joan. 
In public Mask, or private Ball, 
From Lincoln's Inn., to Goldsmitb''s Hall., 
All Christmas long away She trudges ; 
Trips it with Prentices and Judges : 
In vain her Children urge her Stay ; 
And Age or Palsey bar the Way. 
But if those Images prevail. 
Which whilom did affec^t the Tail ; 
She still reviews the ancient Scene ; 
Forgets the forty Years between : 
Awkwardly gay, and odly merry, 
Her Scarf pale Pink, her Head-Knot Cherry ; 
O'er heated with Ideal Rage, 
She cheats her Son, to wed her Page. 

If Alma, whilst the Man was young, 
Slip'd up too soon into his Tongue : 



232 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Pleas'd with his own fantastic Skill, 

He lets that Weapon ne'er lie still. 

On any Point if You dispute ; 

Depend upon it, He'll confute : 

Change Sides ; and You increase your Pain : 

For He'll confute You back again. 

For One may speak with Tully's Tongue ; 

Yet all the while be in the wrong. 

And 'tis remarkable, that They 

Talk most, who have the least to say. 

Your dainty Speakers have the Curse, 

To plead bad Causes down to worse : 

As Dames, who Native Beauty want, 

Still uglier look, the more They paint. 

Again : If in the Female Sex 
Alma should on this Member fix ; 
(A cruel and a desp'rate Case, 
From which Heav'n shield my lovely Lass !) 
For evermore all Care is vain. 
That would bring Alma down again. 
As in habitual Gout, or Stone, 
The only Thing that can be done. 
Is to correal your Drink and Diet, 
And keep the inward Foe in Quiet : 
So, if for any Sins of Our's, 
Or our Forefathers, Higher Pow'rs, 
Severe tho' just, afHift our Life 
With that Prime 111, a talking Wife ; 
'Till Death shall bring the kind Relief, 
We must be Patient, or be Deaf. 

You know, a certain Lady, Dick, 
Who saw Me, when I last was sick : 
She kindly talk'd, at least three Hours, 
Of Plastic Forms, and Mental Pow'rs : 
Describ'd our pre-existing Station, 
Before this vile Terrene Creation : 
And lest I should be weary'd. Madam, 
To cut Things short, came down to Adam ; 

233 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

From whence, as fast as She was able, 
She drowns the World, and builds up Babel ; 
Thro' Syria, Persia, Greece She goes ; 
And takes the Romans in the Close. 

But We'll descant on gen'ral Nature : 
This is a SysteJii^ not a Satyr. 

Turn We this Globe ; and let Us see, 
How diff'rent Nations disagree. 
In what We wear, or eat and drink ; 
Nay, Dick, perhaps in what We think. 
In Water as You smell and tast 
The Soyls, thro' which it rose and past : 
In Alma's Manners You may read 
The Place, where She was born and bred. 

One People from their swadling Bands 
Releas'd their Infants Feet and Hands : 
Here Alma to these Limbs was brought ; 
And Sparta's Offspring kick'd and fought. 

Another taught their Babes to talk. 
E'er they could yet in Goe-carts walk : 
There Alma settl'd in the Tongue ; 
And Orators from Athens sprung. 

Observe but in these Neighb'ring Lands, 
The diff'rent Use of Mouths and Hands : 
As Men repos'd their various Hopes, 
In Battles These, and Those in Fropes. 

In Britain's Isles, as He\lvn notes, 
The Ladies trip in Petticoats ; 
Which, for the Honor of their Nation, 
They quit but on some great Occasion. 
Men there in Breeches clad You view : 
They claim that Garment, as their due. 
In Turkey the Reverse appears ; 
Long Coats the haughty Husband wears, 
And greets His Wife with angry Speeches; 
If She be seen without her Breeches. 



234 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

In our Fantastic Climes the Fair 
With cleanly Powder dry their Hair : 
And round their lovely Breast and Head 
Fresh Flow'rs their mingl'd Odors shed. 
Your nicer Hottentotes think meet 
With Guts and Tripe to deck their Feet : 
With down-cast Looks on Totta's Legs, 
The ogling Youth most humbly begs, 
She would not from his Hopes remove 
At once his Breakfast, and his Love : 
And if the skittish Nymph should flyj 
He in a double Sense must die. 

We simple Toasters take Delight 
To see our Women's Teeth look white. 
And ev'ry saucy ill-bred Fellow 
Sneers at a Mouth profoundly yellow. 
In China none hold Women sweet, 
Except their Snags are black as Jett. 
King Chihu put Nine Qiieens to Death, 
Convift on Statute, Iv\y Teeth. 

At ToNQUiN if a Prince should die ; 
(As Jesuits write, who never lye) 
The Wife, and Counsellor, and Priest, 
Who serv'd Him most, and lov'd Him best ; 
Prepare, and light his Fun'ral Fire, 
And chearful on the Pile expire. 
In Europe 'twould be hard to find 
In each Degree One half so kind. 

Now turn We to the farthest East, 
And there observe the Gentry Drest. 
Prince Giolo, and his Royal Sisters, 
Scarr'd with ten thousand comely Blisters ; 
The Marks remaining on the Skin, 
To tell the Quality within. 
Distinguish'd Slashes deck the Great : 
As each excells in Birth, or State ; 
His Oylet-holes are more, and ampler : 
The King's own Body was a Samplar. 



236 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Happy the Climate, where the Beau 
Wears the same Suit for Use, and Show : 
And at a small Expence your Wife, 
If once well pink'd, is cloth'd for Life. 

Westward again the Indian Fair, 
Is nicely smear'd with Fat of Bear. 
Before You see. You smell your Toast, 
And sweetest She, who stinks the most. 
The finest Sparks, and cleanest Beaux 
Drip from the Shoulders to the Toes. 
How sleek their Skins ! their Joints how easy ! 
There Slovens only are not greasy. 

I mention'd difF'rent Ways of Breeding : 
Begin We in our Children's Reading. 
To Master John the English Maid 
A Horn-book gives of Ginger-bread : 
And that the Child may learn the better, 
As He can name, He eats the Letter : 
Proceeding thus with vast Delight, 
He spells, and gnaws, from Left to Right, 
But shew a Hebrew's hopeful Son, 
Where We suppose the Book begun ; 
The Child would thank You for your Kindness, 
And read quite backward from our Finis : 
Devour He Learning ne'er so fast ; 
Great A would be reserv'd the last. 

An equal Instance of this Matter, 
Is in the Manners of a Daughter. 
In Europe, if a harmless Maid, 
By Nature and by Love betray 'd. 
Should e'er a Wife become a Nurse ; 
Her Friends would look on Her the Worse. 
In China, Dampier's Travels tell Ye ; 
(Look in his Index for Pagelli :) 
Soon as the British Ships unmoore, 
And jolly Long-boat rows to Shore ; 
Down come the Nobles of the Land : 
Each brings his Daughter in his Hand, 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Beseeching the Imperious Tar 

To make Her but One Hour his Care. 

The tender Mother stands affrighted. 

Lest her dear Daughter should be slighted : 

And poor Miss Yaya dreads the Shame 

Of going back the Maid She came. 

Observe how Custom, Dick, compells 
The Lady that in Europe dwells : 
After her Tea She slips away ; 
And what to do, One need not say. 
Now see how great Pomonque's Queen 
Behav'd Herself amongst the Men : 
Pleas'd with her Punch, the Gallant Soul 
First drank, then water'd in the Bowl ; 
And sprinkl'd in the Captain's Face 
The Marks of Her Peculiar Grace 

To close this Point, We need not roam 
For Instances so far from Home. 
What parts gay France from sober Spain ? 
A little rising Rocky Chain. 
Of Men born South or North o'th' Hill, 
Those seldom move ; These ne'er stand still. 
Dick, You love Maps, and may perceive 
Rome not far distant from Geneve. 
If the good Pope remains at Home, 
He's the First Prince in Christendome. 
Choose then, good Pope, at Home to stay ; 
Nor Westward curious take Thy Way. 
Thy Way unhappy should'st Thou take 
From Tiber's Bank to LEMAN-Lake ; 
Thou art an Aged Priest no more, 
But a Young flaring Painted Whore : 
Thy Sex is lost : Thy Town is gone. 
No longer Rome, but Babylon. 
That some few Leagues should make this Change, 
To Men unlearn'd seems mighty strange. 

But need We, Friend, insist on This ? 
Since in the very Cantons Swiss, 

237 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

All Your Philosophers agree, 

And prove it plain, that One may be 

A Heretic, or True Believer, 

On this, or t'other Side a River. 

Here with an artful Smile, quoth Dick, 
Your Proofs come mighty full, and thiclc- 

The Bard on this extensive Chapter, 
Wound up into Poetic Rapture, 
Continu'd : Richard, cast your Eye 
By Night upon a Winter-Sky : 
Cast it by Day-light on the Strand, 
Which compasses fair Albion's Land : 
If You can count the Stars that glow 
Above, or Sands that lie below ; 
Into those Common-places look. 
Which from great Authors I have took ; 
And count the Proofs I have collec^led, 
To have my Writings well protected. 
These I lay by for Time of Need ; 
And Thou may'st at thy Leisure read. 
For standing every Critic's Rage, 
I safely will to future Age 
My System^ as a Gift, bequeath, 
Vi6lorious over Spight, and Death. 



THE 
THIRD CANTO. 

RICHARD, who now was half a-sleep, 
Rous'd ; nor would longer Silence keep 
And Sense like this, in vocal Breath 
Broke from his twofold Hedge of Teeth. 
Now if this Phrase too harsh be thought ; 
Pope, tell the World, 'tis not my Fault. 
Old Homer taught us thus to speak : 
If 'tis not Sense ; at least 'tis Greek. 



238 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

As Folks, quoth Richard, prone to Leasing, 
Say Things at first because they're pleasing ; 
Then prove what they have once asserted. 
Nor care to have their Lie deserted ; 
'Till their own Dreams at length deceive 'em ; 
And oft repeating, they believe 'em. 
Or as again those am'rous Blades, 
Who trifle with their Mother's Maids ; 
Tho' at the first their wild Desire, 
Was but to quench a present Fire ; 
Yet if the object of their Love 
Chance by Lucina's Aid to prove ; 
They seldom let the Bantling roar 
In Basket, at a Neighbour's Door : 
But by the flatt'ring Glass of Nature, 
Viewing themselves in Cake-bread'' s Feature ; 
With serious Thought and Care support, 
What only was begun in Sport. 

Just so with You, my Friend, it fares, 
Who deal in Philosophic Wares : 
Atoms You cut ; and Forms You measure, 
To gratifie your private Pleasure ; 
'Till airy Seeds of casual Wit 
Do some fantastic Birth beget : 
And pleas'd to find your System mended, 
Beyond what You at first intended, 
The happy Whimsey You pursue ; 
'Till You at length believe it true. 
Caught by your own delusive Art, 
You fancy first, and then assert. 

Quoth Matthew : Friend, as far as I 
Thro' Art or Nature cast my Eye, 
This Axiom clearly I discern, 
That One must Teach, and t'Other Learn. 
No Fool Pythagoras was thought : 
Whilst He his weighty Doctrines taught ; 
He made his list'ning Scholars stand, 
Their Mouth still cover'd with their Hand : 
Else, may be, some odd-thinking Youth, 



239 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Less Friend to Doctrine than to Truth, 
Might have refus'd to let his Ears 
Attend the Musick of the Spheres ; 
Deny'd all transmigrating Scenes, 
And introduc'd the Use of Beans. 
From great Lucretius take His Void ; 
And all the World is quite destroy 'd. 
Deny Des-cart His subtil Matter ; 
You leave Him neither Fire, nor Water, 
How odly would Sir Isaac look, 
If You, in Answer to his Book, 
Say in the Front of your Discourse, 
That Things have no Elastic Force ? 
How could our Cbyinic Friends go on, 
To find the Philosophic Stone ; 
If You more pow'rful Reasons bring. 
To prove, that there is no such Thing ? 

Your Chiefs in Sciences and Arts, 
Have great Contempt of Alma's Parts. 
They find. She giddy is, or dull ; 
She doubts, if Things are void, or full : 
And who should be presum'd to tell. 
What She Her self should see, or feel ? 
She doubts, if two and two make four ; 
Tho' She has told them ten times o'er. 

It can't it may be and it must : 

To which of these must Alma trust ? 
Nay, further yet They make Her go. 
In doubting, if She doubts, or no. 
Can Syllogysm set Things right ? 
No : Majors soon with Minors fight : 
Or, Both in friendly Consort join'd ; 
The Consequence limps false behind. 
So to some Cunning-Man She goes. 
And asks of Him, how much She knows. 
With Patience grave He hears Her speak ; 
And from his short Notes, gives Her back 
What from her Tale He comprehended : 
Thus the Dispute is wisely ended. 



240 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

From the Account the Loser brings, 
The Conj'ror knows, who stole the Things. 

'Squire (interrupted Dick) since when 
Were You amongst these Cunning-Men ? 

Dear Dick, quoth Mat, let not Thy Force 
Of Eloquence spoil my Discourse. 
I tell Thee, this is Alma's Case, 
Still asking, what some Wise-man says, 
Who does his Mind in Words reveal. 
Which All must grant ; tho' Few can spell. 
You tell Your Dodor, that Y'are ill : 
And what does He, but write a Bill, 
Of which You need not read one Letter ? 
The worse the Scrawl, the Dose the better. 
For if You knew but what You take ; 
Tho' You recover. He must break. 

Ideas^ Forms^ and lntelle£ls^ 
Have furnish'd out three diff'rent Sefts. 
Substance., or Accident divides 
All Europe into adverse Sides. 

Now, as engag'd in Arms or Laws, 
You must have Friends to back your Cause : 
In Philosophic Matters so 
Your Judgment must with others go. 
For as in Senates, so in Scholes, 
Majority of Voices rules. 

Poor Alma, like a lonely Deer, 
O'er Hills and Dales does doubtful err : 
With panting Haste, and quick Surprise, 
From ev'ry Leaf that stirs. She flies ; 
'Till mingl'd with the neighb'ring Herd, 
She slights what erst She singly fear'd : 
And now, exempt from Doubt and Dread, 
She dares pursue ; if They dare lead : 
As Their Example still prevails ; 
She tempts the Stream, or leaps the Pales. 

P. Q 241 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

He then, quoth Dick, who by Your Rule 
Thinks for Himself, becomes a Fool. 
As Party-Man who leaves the rest, 
Is call'd but JVh'inn'ical at Best. 
Now, by Your Favour, Master Mat, 
Like Ralpho, here I smell a Rat. 
I must be listed in Your Sedt ; 
Who, tho' They teach not, can proted:. 
Right, Richard, Mat. in Triumph cri'd ; 
So put off all Mistrust and Pride. 
And while My Principles I beg ; 
Pray answer only with Your Leg. 
Believe what friendly I advise : 
Be first secure ; and then be wise. 
The Man within the Coach that sits. 
And to another's Skill submits. 
Is safer much (whate'er arrives) 
And warmer too, than He that drives. 

So, Dick Adepts tuck back Thy Hair ; 
And I will pour into Thy Ear 
Remarks, which None did e'er disclose, 
In smooth-pac'd Verse, or hobling Prose. 
Attend, Dear Dick ; but don't reply : 
And Thou may'st prove as Wise as I. 

When Alma now in diff'rent Ages, 
Has finish'd Her ascending Stages ; 
Into the Head at length She gets. 
And There in Public Grandeur sits, 
To judge of Things, and censure Wits. 

Here, Richard, how could I explain. 
The various Lab'rinths of the Brain ? 
Surprise My Readers, whilst I tell 'em 
Of Cerebrum^ and Cerebellum ? 
How could I play the Commentator 
On Dura^ and on Pia Mater ? 
Where Hot and Cold, and Dry and Wet, 
Strive each the t'other's Place to get ; 



242 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And with incessant Toil and Strife, 
Would keep Possession during Life. 
I could demonstrate every Pore, 
Where Mem'ry lays up all her Store ; 
And to an Inch compute the Station, 
'Twixt Judgment, and Imagination. 

Friend ! I could display much Learning, 
At least to Men of small Discerning. 

The Brain contains ten thousand Cells : 
In each some active Fancy dwells ; 
Which always is at Work, and framing 
The several Follies I was namino-. 
As in a Hive's vimineous Dome, 
Ten thousand Bees enjoy their Home ; 
Each does her studious Action vary, 
To go and come, to fetch and carry : 
Each still renews her little Labor ; 
Nor justles her assiduous Neighbour : 
Each whilst this Thesis I maintain ; 

1 fancy, Dick, I know thy Brain. 
O with the mighty Theme affedled. 
Could I but see thy Head dissefted ! 

My Head, quoth Dick, to serve your Whim ? 
Spare That, and take some other Limb. 
Sir, in your nice Affairs of System^ 
Wise Men propose ; but Fools assist 'em. 

Says Matthew : Richard, keep thy Head, 
And hold thy Peace ; and I'll proceed. 

Proceed .? quoth Dick : Sir, I aver. 
You have already gone too far. 
When People once are in the Wrong ; 
Each Line they add, is much too long. 
Who fastest walks, but walks astray. 
Is only furthest from his Way. 
Bless your Conceits ! must I believe, 
Howe'er absurd, what You conceive ; 
And, for your Friendship, live and dye 
A Papist in Philosophy ? 

Q2 243 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

I say, whatever You maintain 

Of Alma in the Heart, or Brain ; 

The plainest Man alive may tell Ye, 

Her Seat of Empire is the Belly : 

From hence She sends out those Supplies, 

Which make Us either stout, or wise : 

The Strength of ev'ry other Member, 

Is founded on your Belly-Timber : 

The Qualms or Raptures of your Blood 

Rise in Proportion to your Food : 

And if you would improve your Thought ; 

You must be fed, as well as taught. 

Your Stomach makes your Fabric roll ; 

Just as the Biass rules the Bowl. 

That great Achilles might imploy 

The Strength, design'd to ruin Troy ; 

He Din'd on Lion's Marrow, spread 

On Toasts of Ammunition-Bread : 

But by His Mother sent away. 

Amongst the Thracian Girls to play, 

Effeminate He sat, and quiet : 

Strange Produft of a Cheese-cake Diet ! 

Now give my Argument fair Play ; 

And take the Thing the t'other Way : 

The Youngster, who at Nine and Three 

Drinks with his Sisters Milk and Tea, 

From Break-fast reads, 'till twelve a Clock, 

Burnet and Heylyn, Hobbes and Lock : 

He pays due Visits after Noon 

To Cousin Alice, and Uncle John : 

At Ten from Coffee-House or Play 

Returning, finishes the Day, 

But give him Port, and potent Sack ; 

From Milk-sop He starts up Mohack : 

Holds that the Happy know no Hours ; 

So thro' the Street at Midnight scow'rs : 

Breaks Watch-men's Heads, and Chair-men's Glasses; 

And thence proceeds to nicking Sashes : 

Till by some tougher Hand o'ercome. 

And first knock'd down, and then led Home ; 



244 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

He damns the Foot-man, strikes the Maid, 
And decently reels up to Bed. 

Observe the various Operations 
Of Food, and Drink in several Nations. 
Was ever Tartar fierce or cruel, 
Upon the Strength of Water-Gruel ? 
But v^ho shall stand His Rage and Force ; 
If first he rides, then eats his Horse ? 
Sallads, and Eggs, and lighter Fare 
Tune the Italian Spark's Guitar. 
And, if I take Dan Congreve right ; 
Pudding and Beef make Britons fight. 
Tokay and Coffee cause this Work, 
Between the German and the Turk : 
And Both, as They Provisions want, 
Chicane, avoid, retire, and faint. 

Hunger and Thirst, or Guns and Svi^ords, 
Give the same Death in diff'rent Words. 
To push this Argument no further; 
To starve a Man, in Lavv^, is Murther. 

As in a Watche's fine Machine, 
Tho' many artful Springs are seen ; 
The added Movements, which declare. 
How full the Moon, how old the Year, 
Derive their secondary Pow'r 
From that, which simply points the Hour. 
For, tho' these Gim-cracks were away ; 
(Quare would not swear; but Quare would say) 
However more reduc'd and plain. 
The Watch would still a Watch remain : 
But if the Horal Orbite ceases ; 
The whole stands still, or breaks to pieces ; 
Is now no longer what it was ; 
And You may e'en go sell the Case. 
So if unprejudic'd you scan 
The Goings of this Clock-work, Man ; 
You find a hundred Movements made 
By fine Devices in his Head : 

245 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

But 'tis the Stomach's solid Stroke, 
That tells his Being, what's a Clock. 
If You take off his Rbet'' rlL-T rigger ; 
He talks no more in Mood and Figure: 
Or clog his Mathe??wtic-Whee[ ; 
His Buildings fall ; his Ship stands still. 
Or lastly, break his Politic-Weight ; 
His Voice no longer rules the State. 
Yet if these finer Whims were gone ; 
Your Clock, tho' plain, would still go on : 
But spoil the Engine of Digestion ; 
And You entirely change the Qiiestion. 
Alma's Affairs no Pow'r can mend ; 
The Jest, alas ! is at an End : 
Soon ceases all this worldly Bustle ; 
And you consign the Corps to Russel. 

Now make your Alma come or go, 
From Leg to Hand, from Top to Toe ; 
Your System^ without My Addition, 
Is in a very sad Condition. 
So Harlequin extoll'd his Horse, 
Fit for the War, or Road, or Course ; 
His Mouth was soft ; his Eye was good ; 
His Foot was sure as ever trod : 
One Fault he had, a Fault indeed ; 
And what was that ? The Horse was Dead. 

Dick, from these Instances and Fetches, 
Thou mak'st of Horses, Clocks, and Watches, 
Quoth Mat, to Me thou seem'st to mean. 
That Alma is a mere Machine ; 
That telling others what's a Clock, 
She knows not what Her self has struck ; 
But leaves to Standers-by the Tryal, 
Of what is mark'd upon her Dial. 

Here hold a Blow, good Friend, quoth Dick, 
And rais'd his Voice exceeding quick : 
Fight fair. Sir : what I never meant 
Don't You infer. In Argument, 

246 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Similies are like Songs in Love : 

They much describe ; they nothing prove. 

Mat, who was here a Httle gravel'd, 
Tost up his Nose, and v^^ould have cavil'd : 
But calling Hermes to his Aid, 
Half pleas'd, half angry, thus He said : 

Where mind ('tis for the Author's Fame) 
That Matthew^ call'd, and Hermes came. 
In Danger Heroes, and in Doubt 
Poets find Gods to help 'em out. 

Friend Richard, I begin to see. 
That You and I shall scarce agree. 
Observe how odly you behave : 
The more I grant, the more You crave. 
But, Comrade, as I said just now, 
I should affirm, and You allow. 
We Systt'fn-inzkers can sustain 
The Thesis^ which. You grant, was plain ; 
And with Remarks and Comments teaze Ye j 
In case the Thing before was easy. 
But in a Point obscure and dark. 
We fight as Leibnits did with Clark ; 
And when no Reason we can show. 
Why Matters This or That Way go ; 
The shortest Way the Thing We try, 
And what We know not, We deny : 
True to our own o'erbearing Pride, 
And false to all the World beside. 

That old Philosopher grew cross, 
Who could not tell what Motion was : 
Because He walk'd against his Will ; 
He fac'd Men down, that He stood still. 
And He who reading on the Heart, 
(When all his ^wdlibcts of Art 
Could not expound it's Pulse and Heat) 
Swore, He had never felt it beat. 
Chrysippus, foil'd by Epicurus, 
Makes bold (Jove bless Him !) to assure Us, 

247 



248 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

That all things, which our Mind can view, 
May be at once both false, and true. 
And Malbranch has an odd Conceit, 
As ever enter'd P'renchman's Pate : 
Says He, so little can our Mind 
Of Matter, or of Spirit find. 
That We by Guess, at least, may gather 
Something, which may be Both, or Neither. 
Faith, Dick, I must confess, 'tis true 
(But this is only Entre Nous) 
That many knotty Points there are, 
Which All discuss, but Few can clear : 
As Nature slily had thought fit. 
For some by-Ends, to cross-bite Wit. 
Circles to square, and Cubes to double, 
Would give a Man excessive Trouble : 
The Longitude uncertain roams, 

In spight of Wh N and his Bombs. 

What System, DiCK, has right averr'd 

The Cause, why Woman has no Beard ; 

Or why, as Years our Frame attack, 

Our Hair grows white, our Teeth grow black ? 

In Points like These We must agree. 

Our Barber knows as much as We. 

Yet still unable to explain. 

We must persist the best We can ; 

With Care our Systems still renew, 

And prove Things likely, tho' not true. 

I could. Thou see'st, in quaint Dispute, 
By dint of Logic strike Thee mute ; 
With learned Skill, now push, now parry, 
From Darii to Bocardo vary, 
And never yield, or what is worst. 
Never conclude the Point discours'd. 
Yet, that You hie & tiunc may know, 
How much You to my Candor owe ; 
I'll from the Disputant descend. 
To show Thee, I assume the Friend : 

I'll take Thy Notion for my own 

(So most Philosophers have done) 



\ 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

It makes my System more complete : 

Dick, can it have a Nobler Fate ? 

Take w^hat Thou wilt, said Dick, Dear Friend ; 

But bring thy Matters to an End. 

I find, quoth Mat, Reproof is vain : 
Who first offend will first complain. 
Thou wishest, I should make to Shoar ; 
Yet still put'st in Thy thwarting Oar. 
What I have told Thee fifty times 
In Prose, receive for once in Rhimes : 
A huge fat Man in Countrey-Fair, 
Or City-Church, (no matter where) 
Labor'd and push'd amidst the Croud, 
Still hauling out extremely loud ; 
Lord save Us ! why do People press ? 
Another marking his Distress, 
Friendly reply'd ; Plump Gentleman, 
Get out as fast as e'er You can : 
Or cease to push, or to exclaim : 
You make the very Croud You blame. 

Says Dick, your Moral does not need 
The least Return ; So e'en proceed : 
Your Tale, howe'er apply 'd, was short : 
So far, at least, I thank You for't. 

Mat. took his Thanks, and in a Tone 
More Magisterial, thus went on. 

Now Alma settles in the Head ; 
As has before been sung, or said : 
And here begins this Farce of Life ; 
Enter Revenge, Ambition, Strife : 
Behold on both Sides Men advance, 
To form in Earnest Bays's Dance. 
L'AvARE not using Half his Store, 
Still grumbles, that He has no more ; 
Strikes not the present Tun, for fear 
The Vintage should be bad next Year : 
And eats To-day with inward Sorrow, 
And Dread of fancy'd Want To-morrow. 

249 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Abroad if the Sour-tout You wear, 

Repells the Rigor of the Air ; 

Would You be warmer, if at Home 

You had the Fabric, and the Loom ? 

And if two Boots keep out the Weather ; 

What need You have two Hides of Leather ? 

Could Pedro, think You, make no Tryal 

Of a Sonata on his Viol, 

Unless he had. the total Gut, 

Whence every String at first was cut ? 

When Rarus shows You his Carton ; 
He always tells You, with a Groan, 
Where two of that same Hand were torn, 
Long before You, or He were born. 

Poor Vento's Mind so much is crost, 
For Part of His Petronius lost ; 
That He can never take the Pains 
To understand what yet remains. 

What Toil did honest Curio take ? 
What stri(?t: Enquiries did He make, 
To get one Medal wanting yet, 
And perfect all his Roman Sett ? 
'Tis found : and O his happy Lot ! 
'Tis bought, lock'd up, and lies forgot : 
Of These no more You hear Him speak : 
He now begins upon the Greek. 
These rang'd and show'd, shall in their Turns 
Remain obscure, as in their Urns. 
My Copper-Lamps at any Rate, 
For being True Antique, I bought ; 
Yet wisely melted down my Plate, 
On Modern Models to be wrought : 
And Trifles I alike pursue ; 
Because They're Old ; because They're New. 

Dick, I have seen You with Delight, 
For Georgy make a Paper-Kite. 
And simple Odes too many show Yc, 
My servile Complaisance to Cloe. 



250 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Parents and Lovers are decreed 

By Nature Fools That's brave indeed ! 

Quoth Dick : such Truths are w^orth receiving : 
Yet still Dick look'd, as not believing. 

Now, Alma, to Divines and Prose 
I leave Thy Frauds, and Crimes, and Woes : 
Nor think To-night of Thy Ill-Nature, 
But of Thy Follies, Idle Creature, 
The turns of Thy uncertain Wing, 
And not the Malice of Thy Sting : 
Thy Pride of being great and wise, 
I do but mention, to despise. 
I view with Anger and Disdain, 
How little gives Thee Joy, or Pain : 
A Print, a Bronze^ a Flow'r, a Root, 
A Shell, a Butter-fly can do't. 
Ev'n a Romance, a Tune, a Rhime 
Help Thee to pass the tedious Time, 
Which else would on thy Hand remain : 
Tho' flown, it ne'er looks back again. 
And Cards are dealt, and Chess-boards brought, 
To ease the Pain of Coward-Thought. 
Happy Result of Human Wit ! 
That Alma may Her self forget. 

Dick, thus We aft ; and thus We are. 
Or toss'd by Hope, or sunk by Care. 
With endless Pain This Man pursues 
What, if he gain'd. He could not use : 
And T'other fondly Hopes to see 
What never was, nor e'er shall be. 
We err by Use, go wrong by Rules ; 
In Gesture grave, in A6lion Fools : 
We join Hypocrisie to Pride, 
Doubling the Faults, We strive to hide. 
Or grant, that with extreme Surprize, 
We find our selves at Sixty wise ; 
And twenty pretty Things are known. 
Of which we can't accomplish One ; 

251 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Whilst, as my System says, the Mind 

Is to these upper Rooms confin'd : 

Should I, my Friend, at large repeat 

Her borrow'd Sense, her fond Conceit ; 

The Bede-roll of her vicious Tricks ; 

My Poem would be too prolix. 

For could I my Remarks sustain, 

Like Socrates, or Miles Montaigne ; 

Who in these Times would read my Books, 

But Tom o' Stiles, or John o' Nokes ? 

As Brentford Kings discrete and wise, 
After long Thought and grave Advice, 
Into Lardella's Coffin peeping, 
Saw nought to cause their Mirth or Weeping 
So Alma now to Joy or Grief 
Superior, finds her late Relief: 
Weary'd of being High, or Great, 
And nodding in her Chair of State ; 
Stun'd and worn out with endless Chat, 
Of Will did this, and Nan said that ; 
She finds, poor Thing, some little Crack, 
Which Nature, forc'd by Time, must make ; 
Thro' which She wings her destin'd Way : 
Upward She soars ; and down drops Clay : 
While some surviving Friend supplies 
Hie jaeet^ and a hundred Lies. 

O Richard, 'till that Day appears, 
Which must decide our Hopes and Fears : 
Would Fortune calm her present Rage, 
And give us Play-things for our Age : 
Would Clotho wash her Hands in Milk, 
And twist our Thread with Gold and Silk : 
Would Sbe in Friendship, Peace, and Plenty, 
Spin out our Years to four times Twenty : 
And should We both in this Condition, 
Have conquer'd Love, and worse Ambition ; 
(Else those two Passions, by the way. 
May chance to show us scurvy Play:) 



252 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Then Richard, then should We sit down, 

Far from the Tumult of this Town : 

I fond of my well-chosen Seat, 

My Pictures, Medals, Books compleat : 

Or should We mix our friendly Talk, 

O'er-shaded in that Fav'rite Walk, 

Which Thy own Hand had whilom planted. 

Both pleas'd with all we thought We wanted : 

Yet then, ev'n then one cross Refledtion 

Would spoil Thy Grove, and My Colleftion : 

Thy Son and his, e'er that, may die ; 

And Time some uncouth Heir supply ; 

Who shall for nothing else be known. 

But spoiling All, that Thou hast done. 

Who set the Twigs, shall He remember. 

That is in Hast to sell the Timber ? 

And what shall of thy Woods remain. 

Except the Box that threw the Main ? 

Nay may not Time and Death remove 
The near Relations, whom I love ? 
And my Coz Tom, or his Coz Mary 
(Who hold the Plough, or skim the Dairy) 
My Fav'rite Books and Pidtures sell 
To Smart, or Doiley by the Ell ? 
Kindly throw in a little Figure, 
And set their Price upon the bigger ? 
Those who could never read their Grammar ; 
When my dear Volumes touch the Hammer ; 
May think Books best, as richest bound. 
My Copper Medals by the Pound 
May be with learned Justice weigh 'd : 
To turn the Ballance, Otho's Head 
May be throv/n in ; And for the Mettle, 
The Coin may mend a Tinker's Kettle 

Tir'd with these Thoughts Less tir'd than I, 

Qiioth Dick, with Your Philosophy 

That People live and dye, I knew 
An hour ago, as well as You. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

And if Fate spins Us longer Years, 

Or is in haste to take the Shears ; 

I know, We must Both Fortunes try. 

And bear our Evils, wet or dry. 

Yet let the Goddess smile, or frown ; 

Bread We shall eat, or white, or brown : 

And in a Cottage, or a Court, 

Drink fine Champnigne^ or muddl'd Port. 

What need of Books these Truths to tell. 

Which Folks perceive, who cannot spell ? 

And must We Spectacles apply, 

To view, what hurts our naked Eye ? 

Sir, if it be Your Wisdom's Aim, 
To make Me merrier than I am ; 
I'll be all Niffht at Your Devotion 



Come on. Friend ; broach the pleasing Notion 
But if You would depress my Thought ; 
Your System is not worth a Groat 

For Plato's Fancies what care I ? 
I hope You would not have me die. 
Like simple Cato in the Play, 
For any Thing that He can say ? 
E'en let Him of Lleas speak 
To Heathens in his Native Greek. 
If to be sad is to be wise ; 
I do most heartily despise 
Whatever Socrates has said. 
Or TuLLv writ, or Wanley read. 

Dear Drift, to set our Matters right, 
Remove these Papers from my Sight ; 
Burn Mat's Des-cart', and Aristotle : 
Here, Jonathan, Your Master's Bottle. 



254 



SOLOMON 

ON THE 

VANITY 

OF THE 

WORLD. 

A 

POEM 

In THREE BOOKS. 



'O Btos ya/5 ovoiL ^X'^'" '"■o'^o? S' ^P7V '^^^^^' 

Eurip. 

Siquis Deus mihi largiatur^ ut ex hac atate repuerascam^ 
<y in cunis vagiam^ valde recusem. 

Cicero de Senedl. 

The bewailing of Mans Miseries hath been elegantly 
and copiously set forth by Many, in the Writings as 
well of Philosophers, as Divines. And it is both a 
pleasant and a profitable Contemplation. 

Lord Bacon'j Advancement of Learning. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 
THE 

PREFACE. 



IT is hard for a Man to speak of hhmelf with any tolerable 
SathfaSllon or Success : He can he no more pleased in blaming 
himself^ than in reading a Satyr made on him by another : and 
though He may justly desire^ that a Friend should praise him ; 
yet if He makes his own Panegyric, He will get very Few to 
read it. It is harder for him to speak of his own Writings. 
An Author is in the Condition of a Culprit : the Public are his 
Judges : by allowing too much, and condescending too far, He may 
injure his own Cause, and become a kind of Felo de se ; and by 
Pleading and Asserting too boldly. He may displease the Court that 
sits upon him : His Apology may only heighten his Accusation. 
I would avoid these Extremes : and though, I grant, it would not 
be very civil to trouble the Reader with a long Preface, before he 
enters upon an indifferent Poem ; I would say so?nething to per- 
swade him to take it as it is, or to excuse it for not being better. 

The Noble Images and KeflcElions, the profound Reasonings 
upon Human Anions, and excellent Precepts for the Government 
of Life, which are found in the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and 
other Books commonly attributed to Solomon, afford SubjeSls for 
finer Poems in every Kind, than have, I think, as yet appeared in 
the Greek, Latin, or any Modern Language : How far They 
were Ferse in their Original, is a Dissertation not to be entred into 
at present. 

Out of this great Treasure, ivhich lies heaped up together, 
in a confused Magnificence, above all Order, I had a Mind to 
collect and digest such Observations, and Apophthegms, as most 
particularly tend to the Proof of that great Assertion, laid down 
in the beginning of the Ecclesiastes, ALL IS VANITY. 

Upon the Su'bje/1 thus chosen, such various Images present 
themselves to a Writer s Mind, that He tnust find it easier to 

256 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

judge^ what should be rejeiied^ than what ought to be received. 
The Difficulty lies in drawing., and disposing; or (as the Painters 
term^ it) in grouping such a Multitude of different ObjeSis, pre- 
serving still the Justice and Conformity of Style and Coloring, the 
Simplex duntaxat & unum, which Horace prescribes, as requi- 
site to make the whole Pidlure beautiful and perfeSi. 

As Precept, however true in Theory, or useful in PraSiice, 
would be but dry^ and tedious in Verse, especially if the Recital 
be long; I found it necessary to form some Story, and give a kind of 
Body to the Poem. Under what Species it may he comprehended, 
whether Didascalic, or Heroic, / leave to the Judgment of the 
Critics; desiring them to be favourable in their Censure; and not 
sollicitous what the Poem is called, provided it may be accepted. 

The chief Personage or Character in the' Y.^\z, is always 
proportioned to the Design of the Work, to carry on the Narration, 
and the Moral. Homer intended to shew us in his Iliad, tha) 
Dissentions atnongst great Men obstruct the Execution If the 
noblest Enterprizes, and tend to the Ruin of a State or Kingdom. 
Hts Achilles therefore is haughty, and passionate, impatient of any 
Restraint by Laws, and arrogant in Arms. In His Odysses the 
same Poet endeavours to explain, that the hardest Difficulties may 
be overcome by Labor, and our Fortune restored after the severest 
AffliSiions. Ulysses therefore is valiant, virtuous and patient. 
Virgil'5 Design was to tell us, hoiu fro?n a small Colony esta- 
blished by the Trojans in Italy, the Roman Empire rose, and 
from what antient Families Augustus {who tvas His Prince and 
Patron) descended. His Hero therefore was to fight his Way to 
the Throne, still distinguish'' d and proteSied by the Favor of the 
Gods. The Poet to this End takes off from the Vices fl/ Achilles 
and adds to the Virtues of Ulysses ; from both perfaing a Cha- 
racter proper for his Work in the Person of JE^E as. 

As Virgil copy'd after Homer, other Epic Poets have copied 
after them both. Tasso'; Gierusalemme Liberata is direSlly 
Troy Town Sacked; with this Difference only, that the two chief 
Characters in Homer, which the Latin Poet had joined in One, 
the Italian has separated in his Godfrey and Rinaldo : but 
He makes them both carry on his Work tvith very great Success. 
Ronsard'5 Franciade, (incomparably good as far as it goes) 
is again Virgil's ^neis. His Hero comes from a Foreign 
Country, settles a Colony, and lays the Foundation of a future 

P. R 257 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Empire. I instance in these^ as the greatest Italian and French 
Poets in the Epic. In our Language Spenser has not contented 
himself with this submissive Matiner of Imitation : He lanches 
out into very flowery Poths^ which still seeyn to conduct him into 
one great Road. His Fair)' Queen {had it been finished) must 
have ended in the Account^ which every Knight was to give of 
his Adventures^ and in the accumulated Praises of his Heroine 
Gloriana. The IVhole ivould have been an Heroic Poem^ but 
in another Cast and Figure^ than any that had ever been written 
before. Tet it is observable^ that every Hero (as far as TVe can 
judge by the Books still remaining) bears his distinguished Cha- 
ra£ier^ and represents some particular Virtue conducive to the 
whole Design. 

To bring this to our present Subjedf : The Pleasures of Life 
do not compensate the Miseries : Age steals upon Us unawares ; 
and Deathy as the only Cure of our Ills, ought to be expeSfed^ 
but not feared. This Instru^ion is to be illustrated by the A^ion 
of some great Person. JVho therefore more proper for the Business 
than Solomon himself? And why may He not be supposed now 
to repeat what., We take it for granted^ He aSled almost three 
thousand Tears since F If in the fair Situation where this Prince 
was placed, He tuas acquainted with Sorrow ; If endoiued with 
the greatest Perfe^ions of Nature, and possess^l of all the Ad- 
vantages of external Condition, He could not find Happiness ; the 
rest of Mankind may safely take the Monarch'' s Word for the 
Truth of ivhat He asserts. And the Author zvho would perswade, 
that We should bear the Ills of Life patiently, meerly because 
Solomon felt the same, has a better Argument, than LuCRETius 
had, when in his imperious tvay. He at once convinces and com- 
mands, that We ought to submit to Death without repining, because 
Epicurus died. 

The whole Poem is a Soliloquy : Solomon is the Person that 
speaks : He is at once the Hero and the Author ; but He tells Us 
very often what others say to Him. Those chief y introduced are 
His Rabbies and Philosophers in the First Book, and His Women 
and their Attendants in the Second: With These the Sacred 
History ?nention Him to have conversed; as likezvise with the 
Angel brought down in the Third Book, to help Him out of His 
Difficulties, or at least to teach Him how to overcome them. 
Nee Deus intersit nisi dignus vindice nodus. 

258 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

/ presume this Poetical Liberty may he very justly allowed Me on 
so solemn an Occasion. 

In my Description I have endeavoured to keep to the Notions 
and Manners of the Jewish Nation^ at the time when Solomon 
lived: And where I allude to the Customs of the Greeks, / 
believe I ynay be justified by the stri^est Chronology ; though 
a Poet is not obliged to the Rules, that confine an Historian. 
Virgil has anticipated Two hundred Tears ; or the Trojan 
Hero and Carthaginian ^leen could not have been brought 
together : And zvithout the same Anachronism several of the finest 
Parts of his i^neis must have been omitted. Our Country-man 
Milton goes yet further. He takes up many of his Material 
Images some 'Thousands of Tears after the Fall of Man : Nor 
could He otherwise have written, or We read one of the sublimest 
Pieces of Inveyition that was ever yet produced. This likewise 
takes off" the Objetlion, that some Names of Countries, Terms of Art, 
and Notions in Natural Philosophy are otherwise expressed, than 
can be warranted by the Geography or Astronomy of Solomon'^ 
Time. Poets are allowed the same Liberty in their Descriptions 
and Comparisons, as Painters in their Draperies and Ornaments : 
Their Personages may be dress' d, not exatlly in the same Habits 
which they luore, but in such as make them appear most graceful. 
In this case Probability must attone for the want of Truth. This 
Liberty has indeed been abused by Eminent Masters in either 
Science. Raphael and Tasso have shewed their Discretion, 
where Paul Veronese and Ariosto are to answer for their 
Extravagayicies. It is the Excess, not the Thing it self, that 
IS blameahle. 

I would say one Word of the Measure, in tvhich This, and 
most Poems of the Age are written. Heroic with continued 
Rhime, as Donne and his Contemporaries used it, carrying the 
Sense of one Verse most commonly into another, was found too 
dissolute and wild, and came very often too near Prose. As 
Davenant and Waller correSied, and Dryden perfeSled it; 
It is too Confined : It cuts off the Sense at the end of every first 
Line, which must always rhime to the next following; and con- 
sequently produces too frequent an Identity in the Sound, and brings 
every Couplet to the Point of an Epigram. It is indeed too broken 
and weak, to convey the Sentiments and represent the Images 
proper for Epic. And as it tires the Writer while he composes, 

R 2 259 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

it must do the same to the Reader while he repeats \ especially in 
a Poe?n of any considerable length. 

If striking out into Blank Verse, as Milton did {and in 
this kind Mr. Philipps, had He lived^ would have excelled) or 
running the Thought into Alternate and Stanza, which allows a 
greater Variety., and still preserves the Dignity of the Verse; 
as Spenser and Fairfax have done; If either of these., I say^ he 
a proper Remedy for my Poetical Complaint., or if any other may 
he found., I dare not deter?nine : I am only enquiring., in order to 
be better informed; without presuming to direct the Judgment of 
Others. And while I am speaking of the Verse it self I give 
all just Praise to many of my Friends now living ; who have in 
Epic carried the Harmony of their Numbers as far., as the Nature 
of this Measure will permit. But once more ; He that writes in 
Rhi?/ies, dances in Fetters: And as his Chain is more extended., 
he may certainly take larger Steps. 

I need make no Apology for the short Digressive Panegyric 
upon Great Britain, in the First Book: I am glad to have 
it observed., that there appears throughout all yny Verses a Zeal 
for the Honor of my Country: and I had rather he thought a 
good English-man, than the best Poet., or greatest Scholar that 
ever wrote. 

And now., as to the publishing of this Piece, though I have 
in a literal Sense observed Horace'^ Nonum prematur in 
Annum J yet have I by no means obeyed our Poetical Lawgiver, 
according to the Spirit of the Precept. The Poetn has indeed been 
written and laid aside much longer than the Term prescribed ; hut in 
the mean time I had little Leisure, and less Inclination to revise 
or print it. The frequent Interruptions I have met with in my 
private Studies, and great Variety of Public Life, in which I have 
been imployed; my Thoughts {such as they are) having generally 
been expressed in Foreign Language, and even forined by a Habi- 
tude very different from what the Beauty and Elegance of English 
Poetry requires : All These, and some other Circumstances, which 
we had as good pass by at present, do justly contribute to make my 
Excuse in this Behalf very plausible. Far indeed from designing 
to print, I had locked up these Papers in my Scritoire, there to lie 
in Peace, Uill my Executors tnight have taken Them out. What 
altered this Design; or how tny Scritoire came to he unlocked 
before my Coffin xvas nailed; is the ^lestion. The true Reason 

260 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

/ take to be the best : Many of my Friends of the first ^ua/ityy 
finest Learning.^ and greatest Understandings have wrested the 
Key from my Hands by a very kind and irresistible Violence : 
And the Poem is published^ not without my Consent indeed^ but a 
little against my Opinion ; and with an ifnplicite Submission to the 
Partiality of "Their fudgment. As I give up here the Fruits of 
many of my vacant Hours to Their Amusement and Pleasure ; 
/ shall always think my self happy^ if I may dedicate my most 
serious Endeavours to Their Interest and Service. And I am 
proud to finish this Preface by saying^ that the Violence of many 
Enemies^ whom I never justly ofi^ended^ is abundantly recompensed^ 
by the Goodness of more Friends^ whom I can never sufficiently 
oblige. And if I here assume the Liberty of mentioning My Lord 
Harley and Lord Bathurst as the Authors of this Amicable 
Confederacy., among All Those., whose Names do me great Honor 
in the beginning of my Book : These Two only ought to be angry 
with me; for I disobey their positive Order ^ whilst I make even 
this small Acknowledgment of their particular Kindness. 



261 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



KNOWLEDGE; 

THE 
FIRST BOOK. 

The ARGUMENT. 

SOLOMON seeking Happinesi from Knowledge, convenes 
the Learned Men of His Kingdo?n ; requires them to explain 
to Him the various Operations and Effe^is of Nature ; discourses 
of Vegetables^ Animals^ and Man ; proposes some ^lestions con- 
cerning the Origin^ and Situation of the habitable Earth ; proceeds 
to examine the System of the visible Heaven ; doubts if there may 
not be a Plurality of Worlds ; enquires into the Nature of Spirits 
and Angels-, and wishes to be more fully informed^ as to the 
Attributes of the Supreme Being. He is imperfe^ly answered by 
the Rabbins, and Dotlors ; blames His oivn Curiosity ; and con- 
cludes^ that as to Human Science, All is Vanity. 



262 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



TEXTS chiefly alluded to i7t this Book, 

The Words of the Preacher, the Son of David, King of 
Jerusalem. Ecclesiastes, Chap. I. Vers. i. 

Vanity of Vanities, saith the Preacher, Vanity of Vanities, 
all is Vanity. Vers. 2 

I communed with mine own Heart, saying, lo, 1 am come 
to great Estate, and have gotten more Wisdom, than all they 
that have been before me in Jerusalem : Yea my Heart had 
great Experience of Wisdom and Knowledge. Vers. i6. 

He spake of Trees, from the 6W(?r-tree that is in Leba- 
non, even unto the Hyssop that springeth out of the Wall: 
he spake also of Beasts, and of Fowl, and of creeping Things, 
and of Fishes, i Kings, Chap. IV. Vers. 33. 

I know, that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever : 
nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it : and 
God doeth it, that Men should fear before him. Ecclesiastes, 
Chap. III. Vers. 14. 

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: Also 
he hath set the World in their Heart, so that no Man can 
find out the Work that God maketh from the beginning to 
the end. Vers. 11. 

For in much Wisdom is much Grief: and He that in- 
creaseth Knowledge, increaseth Sorrow. Chap. I. Vers. 18. 

And further, by these, my Son, be admonished: of making 
many Books there is no End; and much Study is a weari- 
ness of the Flesh. Chap. 12. Vers. 12. 



263 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

KNOWLEDGE : 

THE 
FIRST BOOK. 

YE Sons of Men, with just Regard attend, 
Observe the Preacher, and believe the Friend, 
Whose serious Muse inspires Him to explain, 
That all we A61, and all we Think is Vain. 
That in this Pilgrimage of Seventy Years, 
O'er Rocks of Perils, and thro' Vales of Tears 
Destin'd to march, our doubtful Steps we tend, 
Tir'd with the Toil, yet fearful of it's End. 
That from the Womb We take our fatal Shares 
Of Follies, Passions, Labors, Tumults, Cares j 
And at Approach of Death shall only know 
The Truths, which from these pensive Numbers flow, 
That We pursue false Joy, and suffer real Woe. 

Happiness, Objeft of that waking Dream, 
Which we call Life, mistaking ; Fugitive Theme 
Of my pursuing Verse, Ideal Shade, 
Notional Good, by Fancy only made. 
And by Tradition nurs'd, fallacious Fire, 
Whose dancing Beams mis-lead our fond Desire, 
Cause of our Care, and Error of our Mind : 
O ! had'st Thou ever been by Heav'n design'd 
To Adam, and his Mortal Race ; the Boon 
Entire, had been reserv'd for Solomon : 
On Me the partial Lot had been bestow'd ; 
And in my Cup the golden Draught had flow'd. 

But O ! e'er yet Original Man was made ; 
E'er the Foundations of this Earth were laid ; 
It was, opponent to our Search, ordain'd, 
That Joy, still sought, should never be attain'd. 

264 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

This, sad Experience cites me to reveal ; 
And what I didtate, is from what I feel. 

Born as I was, great David's fav'rite Son, 
Dear to my People, on the Hebrew Throne 
Sublime, my Court with Ophir's Treasures blest. 
My Name extended to the farthest East, 
My Body cloth'd with ev'ry outward Grace, 
Strength in my Limbs, and Beauty in my Face, 
My shining Thought with fruitful Notions crown'd, 
Quick my Invention, and my Judgment sound. 
Arise (I commun'd with my self) arise ; 
Think, to be Happy ; to be Great, be Wise : 
Content of Spirit must from Science flow ; 
For 'tis a Godlike Attribute, to Know. 

I said ; and sent my Edi6l thro' the Land : 
Around my Throne the Letter'd Rabbins stand, 
Historic Leaves revolve, long Volumes spread. 
The Old discoursing, as the Younger read : 
Attent I heard, propos'd my Doubts, and said ; 

The Vegetable World, each Plant, and Tree, 
It's Seed, it's Name, it's Nature, it's Degree 
I am allow'd, as Fame reports, to know. 
From the fair Cedar^ on the craggy Brow 
Of Lebanon nodding supremely tall, 
To creeping Moss^ and Hyssop on the Wall : 
Yet just and conscious to my self, I find 
A thousand Doubts oppose the searching Mind. 

I know not why the Beach delights the Glade 
With Boughs extended, and a rounder Shade ; 
Whilst tow'ring Firrs in Conic forms arise. 
And with a pointed Spear divide the Skies : 
Nor why again the changing Oak should shed 
The Yearly Honour of his stately Head ; 
Whilst the distinguish'd Tew is ever seen, 
Unchang'd his Branch, and permanent his Green. 
Wanting the Sun why does the Caltha fade ? 
Why does the Cypress flourish in the Shade ? 



265 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The Fig and Date why love they to remain 

In middle Station, and an even Plain ; 

While in the lower Marsh the Gourd is found ; 

And while the Hill with OUve-shzde. is crown'd ? 

Why does one Climate, and one Soil endue "| 

The blushing Poppy with a crimson Hue ; r 

Yet leave the Lilly pale, and tinge the Violet blue ? j 

Why does the fond Carnation love to shoot 

A various Colour from one Parent Root ; 

While the fantastic Tulip strives to break 

In two-fold Beauty, and a parted Streak ? 

The twining Javnine^ and the blushing Kose^ 

With lavish Grace their Morning Scents disclose : 

The smelling 'TiiFrose and 'Junquele declare, 

The stronger Impulse of an Evening Air. 

Whence has the Tree (resolve me) or the Flow'r 

A various Instinft, or a difF'rent Pow'r ? 

Why should one Earth, one Clime, one Stream, one Breath 

Raise This to Strength, and sicken That to Death ? 

Whence does it happen, that the Plant which well 
We name the Sensitive^ should move and feel ? 
Whence know her Leaves to answer her Command, 
And with quick Horror fly the neighboring Hand ? 

Along the Sunny Bank, or wat'ry Mead, 
Ten thousand Stalks their various Blossoms spread : 
Peaceful and lowly in their native Soil, 
They neither know to spin, nor care to toil ; 
Yet with confess'd Magnificence deride 
Our vile Attire, and Impotence of Pride. 
The Cowslip smiles, in brighter yellow dress'd, 
Than That which veils the nubile Virgin's Breast. 
A fairer Red stands blushing in the Rosi\ 
Than That which on the Bridegroom's Vestment flows. 
Take but the humblest Lilly of the Field ; 
And if our Pride will to our Reason yield. 
It must by sure Comparison be shown, 
That on the Regal Seat great David's Son, 
Aray'd in all his Robes, and Types of Pow'r, 
Shines with less Glory, than that simple Flow'r. 

266 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Of Fishes next, my Friends, I would enquire. 
How the mute Race engender, or respire; 
From the small Fry that glide on Jordan's Stream 
Unmark'd, a Multitude without a Name, 
To that Leviathan^ who o'er the Seas | 

Immense rolls onward his impetuous Ways, y 

And mocks the Wind, and in the Tempest plays. ) 

How They in Warlike Bands march greatly forth 
From freezing Waters, and the colder North, 
To Southern Climes dire6ling their Career, 
Their Station changing with th'inverted Year. 
How all with careful Knowledge are indu'd, ] 

To chuse their proper Bed, and Wave, and Food : y 

To guard their Spawn, and educate their Brood. ) 

Of Birds, how each according to her Kind 
Proper Materials for her Nest can find; 
And build a Frame, which deepest Thought in Man 
Would or amend, or imitate in vain. 
How in small Plights They know to try their Young, 
And teach the callow Child her Parent's Song. 
Why these frequent the Plain, and those the Wood. 
Why ev'ry Land has her specific Brood. 
Where the tall Crane^ or winding Swallow goes. 
Fearful of gathering Winds, and falling Snows : 
If into Rocks, or hollow Trees they creep. 
In temporary Death confin'd to Sleep; 
Or conscious of the coming Evil, fly 
To milder Regions, and a Southern Sky. 

Of Beasts and creeping Insedts shall we trace 
The wond'rous Nature, and the various Race; 
Or wild or tame, or Friend to Man or Foe, 
Of Us, what They, or what of Them We know? 

Tell me, Ye studious, who pretend to see 
Far into Nature's Bosom, whence the Bee 
Was first inform'd her vent'rous Flight to steer 
Thro' traftless Paths, and an Abyss of Air. 
Whence she avoids the slimy Marsh, and knows "| 

The fertile Hills where sweeter Herbage grows, >■ 

And Hony-making Flow'rs their opening Buds disclose. J 

267 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

How from the thicken'd Mist, and setting Sun 

Finds She the Labor of her Day is done ? 

Who taught Her against Winds and Rains to strive, 

To bring her Burden to the certain Hive, 

And thro' the liquid Fields again to pass 

Dutious, and hark'ning to the sounding Brass? 

And, O Thou Sluggard, tell me why the Ant 
'Midst Summer's Plenty thinks of Winter's Want : 
By constant Journeys careful to prepare 
Her Stores ; and bringing home the Corny Ear, 
By what Instru6tion does She bite the Grain, 
Lest hid in Earth, and taking Root again, 
It might elude the Foresight of her Care? 
Distind: in either Lisedt's Deed appear 
The marks of Thought, Contrivance, Hope, and Fear. 

Fix thy corporeal, and internal Eye 
On the Young Gnat^ or new-engender'd Fly ; 
On the vile Worni^ that Yesterday began 
To crawl ; Thy Fellow-Creatures, abjeft Man ! 
Like Thee they breath, they move, they tast, they see. 
They show their Passions by their Afts like Thee : 
Darting their Stings, they previously declare 
Design'd Revenge, and fierce intent of War : 
Laying their Eggs, they evidently prove 
The Genial Pow'r, and full Effect of Love. 
Each then has Organs to digest his Food, 
One to beget, and one receive the Brood: 
Has Limbs and Sinews, Blood and Heart, and Brain, 
Life, and her proper Fun6tions to sustain ; 
Tho' the whole Fabric smaller than a Grain. 
What more can our penurious Reason grant 
To the large JVhale^ or Castled Elephant^ 
To those enormous Terrors of the Nile, 
The crested Snake^ and long-tail'd Crocodile^ 
Than that all differ but in Shape and Name, 
Each destin'd to a less, or larger Frame ? 

For potent Nature loves a various Adt, 
Prone to enlarge, or studious to contract : 

268 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Now forms her Work too small, now too immense, 

And scorns the Measures of our feeble Sense. 

The Objeft spread too far, or rais'd too high, 

Denies it's real Image to the Eye : 

Too little, it eludes the dazl'd Sight ; 

Becomes mixt Blackness, or unparted Light. 

Water and Air the varied Form confound ; 

The Strait looks crooked, and the Square grows round. 

Thus while with fruitless Hope, and weary Pain, 
We seek great Nature's Pow'r, but seek in vain ; 
Safe sits the Goddess in her dark Retreat; 
Around Her, Myriads of Ideas wait, 
And endless Shapes, which the Mysterious Queen 
Can take or quit, can alter or retain : 
As from our lost Pursuit She wills to hide 
Her close Decrees, and chasten human Pride. 

Untam'd and fierce the Tiger still remains: 
He tires his Life in biting on his Chains : 
For the kind Gifts of Water, and of Food, 
Ungrateful, and returning 111 for Good, 
He seeks his Keeper's Flesh, and thirsts his Blood : 
While the strong Gamely and the gen'rous Horse^ 
Restrain'd and aw'd by Man's inferior Force, 
Do to the Rider's Will their Rage submit. 
And answer to the Spur, and own the Bit ; 
Stretch their glad Mouths to meet the Feeder's Hand, 
Pleas'd with his Weight, and proud of his Command. 

Again : the lonely Fox roams far abroad, 
On secret Rapin bent, and Midnight Fraud ; 
Now haunts the ClifF, now traverses the Lawn ; 
And flies the hated Neighborhood of Man : 
While the kind Spaniel^ and the faithful Houndy 
Likest that Fox in Shape and Species found, 
Refuses thro' these Cliffs and Lawns to roam ; 
Pursues the noted Path, and covets home ; 
Does with kind Joy Domestic Faces meet ; 
Takes what the glutted Child denies to eat ; 
And dying, licks his long-lov'd Master's Feet. 



269 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

By what immediate Cause They are inchn'd, 
In many A6ls, 'tis hard, I own, to find. 
I see in others, or I think I see, 
That strift their Principles, and our's agree. 
Evil like Us they shun, and covet Good ; 
Abhor the Poison, and receive the Food. 
Like Us they love or hate : like Us they know, 
To joy the Friend, or grapple with the Foe. 
With seeming Thought their Action they intend, 
And use the A4eans proportion'd to the End. 
Then vainly the Philosopher avers. 
That Reason guides our Deed, and Instind: their's. 
How can V/e justly different Causes frame. 
When the Effedls entirely are the same ? 
Instin(!:t and Reason how can we divide? 
'Tis the Fool's Ign'rance, and the Pedant's Pride. 

With the same Folly sure, Man vaunts his Sway ; 
If the brute Beast refuses to Obey. 
For tell me, when the empty Boaster's Word 
Proclaims himself the Universal Lord ; 
Does He not tremble, lest the Lions Paw 
Should join his Plea against the fancy'd Law ? 
Would not the Learned Coward leave the Chair ; 
If in the Schools or Porches should appear 
The fierce Hya:na^ or the foaming Bear^ 

The Combatant too late the Field declines ; 
When now the Sword is girded to his Loins. 
When the swift Vessel flies before the Wind ; 
Too late the Sailor views the Land behind. 
And 'tis too late now back again to bring 
Enquiry, rais'd and tow'ring on the Wintj ; 
Forward She strives, averse to be with-held 
From nobler Objedls, and a larger Field. 

Consider with me this i^thcrial Space, 
Yielding to Earth and Sea the middle Place. 
Anxious I ask Ye, how the Pensile Ball 
Should never strive to rise, nor fear to fall. 
When I refle<^l, how the revolving Sun 
Does round our Globe his crooked Journies run ; 

270 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

I doubt of many Lands, if they contain 
Or Herd of Beast, or Colony of Man : 
If any Nations pass their destin'd Days 
Beneath the neighb'ring Sun's diredler Rays : 
If any suffer on the Polar Coast, 
The Rage of Arctos, and eternal Frost. 

May not the Pleasure of Omnipotence 
To each of These some secret Good dispense ? 
Those who amidst the Torrid Regions live, 
May they not Gales unknown to us receive ; 
See daily Show'rs rejoice the thirsty Earth, 
And bless the flow'ry Buds succeeding Birth ? 
May they not pity Us, condemn'd to bear 
The various Heav'n of an obliquer Sphere ; 
While by fix'd Laws, and with a just Return, 
They feel twelve Hours that shade, for twelve that burn ; 
And praise the neighb'ring Sun, whose constant Flame 
Enlightens them with Seasons still the same ? 
And may not Those, whose distant Lot is cast 
North beyond Tartary's extended Waste, 
Where thro' the Plains of one continual Day, 
Six shining Months pursue their even Way ; 
And Six succeeding urge their dusky Flight, 
Obscur'd with Vapors and o'erwhelm'd in Night ; 
May not, I ask, the Natives of these Climes 
(As Annals may inform succeeding Times) 
To our Qiiotidian Change of Heav'n prefer | 

Their one Vicissitude, and equal Share [• 

Of Day and Night, disparted thro' the Year r j 

May they not scorn our Sun's repeated Race, 
To narrow bounds prescrib'd, and little space, 
Hast'ning from Morn, and headlong driv'n from Noon, 
Half of our Daily Toil yet scarcely done ? 
May they not justly to our Climes upbraid 
Shortness of Night, and Penury of Shade ; 
That e'er our weary 'd Limbs are justly blest 
With wholesom Sleep, and necessary Rest ; 
Another Sun demands return of Care, 
The remnant Toil of Yesterday to bear f 

271 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Whilst, when the Solar Beams salute their Sight, 
Bold and secure in half a Year of Light, 
Uninterrupted Voyages they take 
To the remotest Wood, and farthest Lake ; 
Manage the Fishing, and pursue the Course 
With more extended Nerves, and more continu'd Force. 
And when declining Day forsakes their Sky ; 
When gath'ring Clouds speak gloomy Winter nigh ; 
With Plenty for the coming Season blest. 
Six solid Months (an Age) they live, releas'd 
From all the Labor, Process, Clamor, Woe, 
Which our sad Scenes of daily Action know : 
They light the shining Lamp, prepare the Feast, 
And with full Mirth receive the welcome Guest ; 
Or tell their tender Loves (the only Care 
Which now they suffer) to the list'ning Fair ; 
And rais'd in Pleasure, or repos'd in Ease 
(Grateful Alternates of substantial Peace) 
They bless the long Nocturnal Lifluence shed 
On the crown'd Goblet, and the Genial Bed. 
In foreign Isles which our Discov'rers find, 
Far from this length of Continent disjoin'd, 
The rugged Bears^ or spotted Lynx's brood ; 
Frighten the Vallies, and infest the Wood : 
The hungry Crocodile^ and hissing Snake 
Lurk in the troubl'd Stream and fenny Brake : 
And Man untaught, and rav'nous as the Beast, 
Does Valley, Wood, and Brake, and Stream infest. 
Deriv'd these Men and Animals their Birth 
From Trunk of Oak, or pregnant Womb of Earth ? 
Whence then the Old Belief, that All began 
In Eden's Shade, and one created Man ? 
Or grant, this Progeny was wafted o'er 
By coasting Boats from next adjacent Shoar : 
Would Those, from whom We will suppose they spring, 
Slaughter to harmless Lands, and Poyson bring ? 
Would they on Board or Bears, or Lynxes take, 
Feed the She-Jdeler, and the brooding Snake ? 
Or could they think the new Discover'd Isle 
Pleas'd to receive a pregnant Cr-ocodile ? 

272 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And since the Savage Lineage we must trace 
From Noah sav'd, and his distinguish'd Race ; 
How should their Fathers happen to forget 
The Arts which Noah taught, the Rules He set, 
To sow the Glebe, to plant the gen'rous Vine, 
And load with grateful Flames the Holy Shrine ? 
While the great Sire's unhappy Sons are found, 
Unpress'd their Vintage, and untill'd their Ground, 
Stragling o'er Dale and Hill in quest of Food, 
And rude of Arts, of Virtue, and of God. 

How shall We next o'er Earth and Seas pursue 
The vary'd Forms of ev'ry thing we view ; 
That all is chang'd, tho' all is still the same, 
Fluid the Parts, yet durable the Frame ? 
Of those Materials, which have been confess'd 
The pristine Springs, and Parents of the rest. 
Each becomes other. Water stop'd gives Birth 
To Grass and Plants, and thickens into Earth : 
DifFus'd it rises in a higher Sphere ; 
Dilates it's Drops, and softens into Air : 
Those finer Parts of Air again aspire ; 
Move into Warmth, and brighten into Fire : 
That Fire once more by thicker Air o'ercome. 
And downward forc'd, in Earth's capacious Womb 
Alters it's Particles ; is Fire no more ; 
But lies resplendent Dust, and Shining Oar : 
Or running thro' the mighty Mother's Veins, 
Changes it's Shape ; puts off it's old Remains ; 
With wat'ry Parts it's lessen'd Force divides ; 
Flows into Waves, and rises into Tides. 

Disparted Streams shall from their Chanels fly. 
And deep surcharg'd by sandy Mountains lye. 
Obscurely sepulcher'd. By eating Rain, 
And furious Wind, down to the distant Plain 
The Hill, that hides his Head above the Skies, 
Shall fall : The Plain by slow Degrees shall rise 
Higher than er'st had stood the Summit-Hill : 
For Time must Nature's great Behests fulfill. 

p. s 273 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Thus by a length of Years, and Change of Fate, 
All Things are light or heavy, small or great ; 
Thus Jordan's Waves shall future Clouds appear ; 
And Egypt's Pyramids refine to Air. 
Thus later Age shall ask for Pison's Flood ; 
And Travellers enquire, where Babel stood. 

Now where we see these Changes often fall. 
Sedate we pass them by, as Natural : 
Where to our Eye more rarely they appear, 
The Pompous Name of Prodigy they bear : 
Let active Thought these close Maanden trace : 
Let Human Wit their dubious Bound'ries place. 
Are all Things Miracle ; or nothing such .? 
And prove We not too little, or too much ? 

For that a Branch cut off, a wither'd Rod 
Should at a Word pronounc'd revive and bud : 
Is this more strange, than that the Mountain's Brow, 
Strip'd by Decembers Frost, and white with Snow, 
Should push, in Spring, ten thousand thousand Buds ; 
And boast returning Leaves, and blooming Woods ? 
That each successive Night from opening Heav'n 
The Food of Angels should to Man be giv'n ; 
Is this more strange, than that with common Bread 
Our fainting Bodies every Day are fed ; 
Than that each Grain and Seed consum'd in Earth, 
Raises it's Store, and multiplies it's Birth ; 
And from the handful, which the Tiller sows. 
The labour'd Fields rejoice, and future Harvest flows ? 

Then from whate'er We can to Sense produce 
Common and plain, or wond'rous and abstruse. 
From Nature's constant or Eccentric Laws, 
The thoughtful Soul this gen'ral Influence draws, 
That an Efle6t must presuppose a Cause. 
And while She does her upward Flight sustain. 
Touching each Link of the continu'd Chain, 
At length she is oblig'd and forc'd to see 
A First, a Source, a Life, a Deity ; 
What has for ever been, and must for ever be. 

274 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

This great Existence thus by Reason found, 
Blest by all Pow'r, with all Perfeftion crown'd ; 
How can we bind or limit His Decree, 
By what our Ear has heard, or Eye may see ? 
Say then : Is all in Heaps of Water lost, 
Beyond the Islands, and the Mid-land Coast ? 
Or has that God, who gave our World it's Birth, 
Sever'd those Waters by some other Earth, 
Countries by future Plow-shares to be torn, 
And Cities rais'd by Nations yet unborn ? 
E'er the progressive Course of restless Age 
Performs Three thousand times it's Annual Stage ; 
May not our Pow'r and Learning be supprest; 
And Arts and Empire learn to travel West ? 

Where, by the Strength of this Idea charm'd, 
Lighten'd with Glory, and with Rapture warm'd. 
Ascends my Soul? what sees She White and Great 
Amidst subje6led Seas? An Isle, the Seat 
Of Pow'r and Plenty; Her Imperial Throne, 
For Justice and for Mercy sought and known ; 
Virtues Sublime, great Attributes of Heav'n, 
From thence to this distinguish'd Nation given. 
Yet farther West the Western Isle extends 
Her happy Fame; her Armed Fleets She sends 
To Climates folded yet from human Eye; 
And Lands, which We imagine Wave and Sky. 
From Pole to Pole She hears her Afts resound. 
And rules an Empire by no Ocean bound ; 
Knows her Ships anchor 'd, and her Sails unfurl'd 
In other Indies, and a second World. 

Long shall Britannia (That must be her Name) 
Be first in Conquest, and preside in Fame : 
Long shall her favor'd Monarchy engage 
The Teeth of Envy, and the Force of Age : 
Rever'd and Happy She shall long remain. 
Of human Things least changeable, least vain. 
Yet All must with the gen'ral Doom comply ; 
And this Great Glorious Pow'r, tho' last, must dye. 

s 2 275 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Now let us leave this Earth, and lift our Eye 
To the large Convex of yon' Azure Sky : 
Behold it like an ample Curtain spread, 
Now streak'd and glowing with the Morning Red ; 
Anon at Noon in flaming Yellow bright. 
And chusing Sable for the peaceful Night. 
Ask Reason now, whence Light and Shade were giv'n. 
And whence this great Variety of Heav'n : 
Reason our Guide, what can She more reply, 
Than that the Sun illuminates the Sky ; 
Than that Night rises from his absent Ray, 
And his returning Lustre kindles Day? 

But we expeft the Morning Red in vain : 
'Tis hid in Vapors, or obscur'd by Rain. 
The Noontyde Yellow we in vain require : 
'Tis black in Storm, or red in Light'ning Fire. 
Pitchy and dark the Night sometimes appears, 
Friend to our Woe, and Parent of our Fears : 
Our Joy and Wonder sometimes She excites. 
With Stars unnumber'd, and eternal Lights. 
Send forth, Ye Wise, send forth your lab'ring Thought: 
Let it return with empty Notions fraught. 
Of airy Columns every Moment broke. 
Of circling Whirlpools, and of Spheres of Smoke: 
Yet this Solution but once more affords 
New Change of Terms, and scaffolding of Words: 
In other Garb my Question I receive; 
And take the Doubt the very same I gave. 

Lo ! as a Giant strong the lusty Sun 
Multiply'd Rounds in one great Round does run, 
Twofold his Course, yet constant his Career, 
Changing the Day, and finishing the Year. 
Again when his descending Orb retires. 
And Earth perceives the Absence of his Fires ; 
The Moon affords us Her alternate Ray, 
And with kind Beams distributes fainter Day : 
Yet keeps the Stages of her Monthly Race, 
Various her Beams, and changeable her Face. 

276 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Each Planet shining in his proper Sphere, 

Does with just Speed his radiant Voyage steer: 

Each sees his Lamp with difFrent Lustre crown'd : 

Each knows his Course with diff'rent Periods bound ; 

And in his Passage thro' the liquid Space, 

Nor hastens, nor retards his Neighbor's Race. 

Now shine these Planets with substantial Rays? 

Does innate Lustre gild their measur'd Days? 

Or do they (as your Schemes, I think, have shown) 

Dart furtive Beams, and Glory not their own, 

All Servants to that Source of Light, the Sun ? 

Again I see ten thousand thousand Stars, 
Nor cast in Lines, in Circles, nor in Squares : 
(Poor Rules, with which our bounded Mind is fill'd, 
When We would plant, or cultivate, or build) 
But shining with such vast, such various Light, 
As speaks the Hand, that form'd them. Infinite : 
How mean the Order and Perfection sought 
Li the best Produdt of the human Thought, 
Compar'd to the great Harmony that reigns 
In what the Spirit of the World ordains ! 

Now if the Sun to Earth transmits his Ray, 
Yet does not scorch us with too fierce a Day; 
How small a Portion of his Pow'r is giv'n 
To Orbs more distant, and remoter Heav'n? 
And of those Stars, which our imperfect Eye 
Has doom'd, and fix'd to one Eternal Sky, 
Each by a native stock of Honor great, 
May dart strong Influence, and diffuse kind Heat, 
It self a Sun ; and with transmissive Light 
Enliven Worlds deny'd to human Sight : 
Around the Circles of their ambient Skies 
New Moons may grow or wane, may set or rise; 
And other Stars may to those Suns be Earths ; 
Give their own Elements their proper Births; 
Divide their Climes, or elevate their Pole; 
See their Lands flourish, and their Oceans roll ; 
Yet these great Orbs thus radically bright, 
Primitive Founts, and Origins of Light, 



277 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

May each to other (as their diff'rent Sphere 
Makes or their Distance, or their Height appear) 
Be seen a nobler, or inferior Star; 
And in that Space, which We call Air and Sky, 
Myriads of Earths, and Moons, and Suns may lye 
Unmeasur'd, and unknown by human Eye. 

In vain We measure this amazing Sphere, 
And find and fix it's Centre here or there ; 
Whilst it's Circumf'rence, scorning to be brought 
Ev'n into fancy'd Space, illudes our vanquish 'd Thought. 

Where then are all the radiant Monsters driv'n, 
With which your Guesses fill'd the frighten'd Heaven.-' 
Where will their fidlious Images remain ? 
In paper Schemes, and the Chaldean's Brain. 

This Problem yet, this Offspring of a Guess, 
Let Us for once a Child of Truth confess; 
That these fair Stars, these Objeils of Delight, 
And Terror, to our searching dazl'd Sight, 
Are Worlds immense, unnumber'd, infinite. 
But do these Worlds display their Beams, or guide 
Their Orbs, to serve thy Use, to please thy Pride? 
Thy self but Dust, thy Stature but a Span, 
A Moment thy Duration ; foolish Man ! 
As well may the minutest Emmet say. 
That Caucasus was rais'd, to pave his Way : 
The Snail, that Lebanon's extended Wood 
Was destin'd only for his Walk, and Food : 
The vilest Cockle, gaping on the Coast 
That rounds the ample Seas, as well may boast, 
The craggy Rock projects above the Sky, 
That He in Safety at it's Foot may lye; 
And the whole Ocean's confluent Waters swell, 
Only to quench his Thirst, or move and blanch his Shel 

A higher Flight the vent'rous Goddess tries. 
Leaving material Worlds, and local Skies: 
Enquires, what are the Beings, where the Space, 
That form'd and held the Angels ancient Race. 

278 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

For Rebel Lucifer with Michael fought : 

(I offer only what Tradition taught:) 

Embattl'd Cherub against Cherub rose; ] 

Did Shield to Shield, and Pow'r to Pow'r oppose : I 

Heav'n rung with Triumph : Hell was fill'd with Woes. ) 

What were these Forms, of which your Volumes tell. 

How some fought great, and others recreant fell ? 

These bound to bear an everlasting Load, 

Durance of Chain, and Banishment of God : 

By fatal Turns their wretched Strength to tire ; 

To swim in sulph'rous Lakes, or land on solid Fire: 

While Those exalted to primaeval Light, 

Excess of Blessing, and Supreme Delight, 

Only perceive some little Pause of Joys 

In those great Moments, when their God imploys 

Their Ministry, to pour his threaten'd Hate 

On the proud King, or the Rebellious State : 

Or to reverse Jehovah's high Command, 

And speak the Thunder falling from his Hand, 

When to his Duty the proud King returns ; 

And the Rebellious State in Ashes mourns. 

How can good Angels be in Heav'n confin'd ; 

Or view that Presence, which no Space can bind .? 

Is GOD above, beneath, or yon', or here? 

He who made all, is He not ev'ry where? 

O how can wicked Angels find a Night "\ 

So dark, to hide 'em from that piercing Light, l 

Which form'd the Eye, and gave the Pow'r of Sight ? J 

What mean I now of Angel, when I hear 
Firm Body, Spirit pure, or fluid Air? 
Spirits to A6tion spiritual confin'd. 
Friends to our Thought, and Kindred to our Mind, 
Should only a6t and prompt us from within. 
Nor by external Eye be ever seen. 
Was it not therefore to our Fathers known, 
That these had Appetite, and Limb, and Bone? 
Else how could Abram wash their weary'd Feet ; 
Or Sarah please their Taste with sav'ry Meat ? 
Whence should they fear? or why did Lot engage 
To save their bodies from abusive Rage ? 

279 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

And how could Jacob, in a real Fight, 
Feel or resist the wrestling Angel's Might? 
How could a Form it's Strength with Matter try ? 
Or how a Spirit touch a Mortal's Thigh ? 

Now are they Air condens'd, or gather'd Rays? 
How guide they then our Pray'r, or keep our Ways, 
By stronger Blasts still subjedl; to be tost, 
By Tempests scatter'd, and in Whirlwinds lost ? 

Have they again (as Sacred Song proclaims) 
Substances real, and existing Frames ? 
How comes it, since with them we jointly share 
The great Effeft of one Creator's Carcj 
That whilst our Bodies sicken, and decay, 
Their's are for ever healthy, young, and gay? 
Why, whilst We struggle in this Vale beneath, 
With Want and Sorrow, with Disease and Death ; 
Do They more bless'd perpetual Life employ 
On Songs of Pleasure, and in Scenes of Joy? 

Now when my Mind has all this World survey 'd, 
And found, that Nothing by it self was made; 
When Thought has rais'd it self by just Degrees, 
From Vallies crown'd with Flow'rs, and Hills with Trees; 
From smoaking Min'rals, and from rising Streams; 
From fatt'ning Nilus, or victorious Thames; 
From all the Living, that four-footed move 
Along the Shoar, the Meadow, or the Grove; 
From all that can with Finns, or Feathers fly 
Thro' the Aerial, or the Wat'ry Sky ; 
From the poor Reptile with a reas'ning Soul, 
That miserable Master of the Whole ; 
From this great Obje(!:t of the Body's Eye, 
This fair Half-round, this ample azure Sky, 
Terribly large, and wonderfully bright 
With Stars unnumber'd, and unmeasur'd Light ; 
From Essences unseen, Celestial Names, 
Enlight'ning Spirits, and ministerial Flames, 
Angels, Dominions, Potentates, and Thrones, 
All that in each Degree the name of Creature owns : 

280 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Lift we our Reason to that Sov'reign Cause, 

Who blest the whole with Life, and bounded it with Laws ; 

Who forth from Nothing call'd this comely Frame, 

His Will and Ad:, His Word and Work the same ; 

To whom a thousand Years are but a Day ; "j 

Who bad the Light her genial Beams display ; I 

And set the Moon, and taught the Sun his Way : j 

Who waking Time, his Creature, from the Source 

Primaeval, order'd his predestin'd Course : 

Himself, as in the Hollow of His Hand, 

Holding, obedient to His high Command, 

The deep Abyss, the long continu'd Store, ^ 

Where Months, and Days, and Hours, and Minutes pour l 

Their floating Parts, and thenceforth are no more. j 

This Alpha and Omega, First and Last, 

Who like the Potter in a Mould has cast 

The World's great Frame, commanding it to be 

Such as the Eyes of Sense and Reason see ; 

Yet if He wills, may change or spoil the whole ; "j 

May take yon' beauteous, mystic, starry Roll, I 

And burn it, like an useless parchment Scroll : J 

May from it's Basis in one Moment pour 

This melted Earth 

Like liquid Metal, and like burning Oar : 

Who sole in Pow'r, at the Beginning said ; 

Let Sea, and Air, and Earth, and Heav'n be made : 

And it was so And when He shall ordain 

In other Sort, has but to speak again. 

And They shall be no more : Of this great Theme, 

This Glorious, Hallow'd, Everlasting Name, 

This GOD, I would discourse 

The learned Elders sat appall'd, amaz'd ; 
And each with mutual Look on other gaz'd. 
Nor Speech They meditate, nor Answer frame : 
Too plain, alas ! their Silence spake their Shame : 
'Till One, in whom an outward Mien appear'd, 
And Turn superior to the vulgar Herd, 
Began ; that Human Learning's furthest Reach 
Was but to note the Doctrines I could teach ; 

281 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

That Mine to Speak, and Their's was to Obey : 
For I in Knowledge more, than Pow'r did sway ; 
And the astonish'd World in Me beheld 
Moses eclips'd, and Jesse's Son excell'd. 
Humble a Second bow'd, and took the Word ; 
Foresaw my Name by future Age ador'd. 
O Live, said He, Thou Wisest of the Wise ! 
As None has equall'd, None shall ever rise 
Excelling Thee 

Parent of wicked. Bane of honest Deeds, 
Pernicious Flatt'ry ! Thy malignant Seeds 
In an ill Hour, and by a fatal Hand 
Sadly difFus'd o'er Virtue's Gleby Land, 
With rising Pride amidst the Corn appear. 
And choak the Hopes and Harvest of the Year. 

And now the whole perplex'd ignoble Crowd 
Mute to my Questions, in my Praises loud, 
Echo'd the Word : whence Things arose, or how 
They thus exist, the Aptest nothing know : 
What yet is not, but is ordain'd to be, 
All Veil of Doubt apart, the Dullest see. 

My Prophets, and my Sophists finish'd here 
Their Civil EfForts of the Verbal War : 
Not so my Rabbins^ and Logicians yield : 
Retiring still they combat : from the Field 
Of open Arms unwilling they depart, 
And sculk behind the Subterfuge of Art. 
To speak one Thing mix'd Dialec^ls they join ; 
Divide the Simple, and the Plain define ; 
Fix fancy 'd Laws, and form imagin'd Rules, 
Terms of their Art, and Jargon of their Schools, 
111 grounded Maxims by false Gloss enlarg'd. 
And captious Science against Reason charg'd. 

Soon their crude Notions with each other fought 
The adverse Se6l deny'd, what This had taught ; 
And He at length the amplest Triumph gain'd, 
Who contradicted what the last maintain'd. 

282 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

O wretched Impotence of human Mind ! "\ 

We erring still Excuse for Error find ; I 

And darkling grope, not knowing We are blind. J 

Vain Man ! since first thy blushing Sire essay'd 
His Folly with conne6led Leaves to shade ; 
How does the Crime of thy resembling Race 
With like Attempt that pristine Error trace ? 
Too plain thy Nakedness of Soul espy'd, 1 

Why dost Thou strive the conscious Shame to hide I 

By Masks of Eloquence, and Veils of Pride ? j 

With outward Smiles their Flatt'ry I receiv'd ; 
Own'd my Sick Mind by their Discourse reliev'd ; 
But bent and inward to my Self again 
Perplex'd, these Matters I revolv'd ; in vain. 
My Search still tir'd, my Labor still renew'd, 
At length I Ignorance, and Knowledge view'd, 
Impartial ; Both in equal Balance laid : 
Light flew the knowing Scale ; the doubtful Heavy weigh 'd. 

Forc'd by refledlive Reason I confess, 
That human Science is uncertain Guess. 
Alas ! We grasp at Clouds, and beat the Air, 
Vexing that Spirit We intend to clear. 
Can Thought beyond the Bounds of Matter climb ? 
Or who shall tell Me, what is Space or Time ? 
In vain We lift up our presumptuous Eyes 1 

To what our Maker to their Ken denies : l 

The Searcher follows fast ; the Objeft faster flies. J 

The little which imperfeftly We find, ^ 

Seduces only the bewilder'd Mind l 

To fruitless Search of Something yet behind. J 

Various Discussions tear our heated Brain : S 

Opinions often turn ; still Doubts remain ; I 

And who indulges Thought, increases Pain. J 

How narrow Limits were to Wisdom giv'n ? 
Earth She surveys : She thence would measure Heav'n : 
Thro' Mists obscure, now wings her tedious Way ; 
Now wanders dazl'd with too bright a Day ; 

283 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

And from the Summit of a pathless Coast 
Sees Infinite, and in that Sight is lost. 

Remember, that the curs'd Desire to know, 
OfF-spring of Adam, was thy Source of Woe. 
Why wilt Thou then renew the vain Pursuit, 
And rashly catch at the forbidden Fruit ? 
With empty Labor and eluded Strife 
Seeking, by Knowledge, to attain to Life ; 
For ever from that fatal Tree debarr'd, 
Which flaming Swords and angry Cherubs guard. 



284 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



PLEASURE: 

THE 
SECOND BOOK. 

The ARGUMENT. 



SOLOMON again seeking Happiness^ enquires if Wealth and 
Greatness can produce it : begins with the Magnificence of 
Gardens and Buildings^ the Luxury of Music and Feasting ; and 
proceeds to the Hopes and Desires of Love. In two Episodes are 
shewn the Follies and Troubles of that Passion. Solomon still 
disappointed^ falls under the 'Temptations of Libertinism and 
Idolatry ; recovers his Thought^ reasons aright^ and concludes^ 
that as to the Pursuit of Pleasure^ and sensual Delight, All is 
Vanity and Vexation of Spirit. 



285 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



TEXTS chiefly alluded to i7i this Book. 

I said in my own Heart, go to now, I will prove thee with 
Mirth ; therefore enjoy Pleasure. Ecclesiastes, Chap. II. 
Vers. I. 

I made me great Works, I builded me Houses, I planted 
me Vineyards. Vers. 4. 

I made me Gardens and Orchards ; and I planted Trees 
in them of all kind of Fruits. Vers, 5. 

I made me Pools of Water, to water therewith the Wood 
that bringeth forth Trees. Vers. 6, 

Then I looked on all the Works that my Hands had 
wrought, and on the Labour that I had laboured to do : And 
behold, all was Vanity, and Vexation of Spirit ; and there was 
no Profit under the Sun. Vers. 11. 

I gat me Men-Singers and Women-Singers, and the Delights 
of the Sons of Men, as Musical Instruments, and that of all 
Sorts. Vers. 8. 

I sought in mine Heart to give my self unto Wine (yet 
acquainting mine Heart with Wisdom) and to lay hold on Folly, 
'till I might see what was that Good for the Sons of Men, 
which they should do under Heaven, all the Days of their Life. 
Vers, 3. 

Then I said in my Heart, as it happeneth unto the Fool, 
so it happeneth even unto Me ; and why was I then more 
Wise ? Then I said in my Heart, that this also is Vanity. 
Vers. 15. 

Therefore I hated Life, because the Work that is wrought 
under the Sun is grievous unto me. Chap. II. Vers, 27. 

Dead Flies cause the Oyntmcnt to send forth a stinking 
Savour : so doth the little Folly him that is in Reputation 
for Wisdom and Honour. Chap. X. Vers. i. 

The Memory of the Just is blessed, but the Memory of 
the Wicked shall rot. Proverbs, Chap, X. Verse. 7. 

286 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

PLEASURE : 

THE 
SECOND BOOK. 

TRY then, O Man, the Moments to deceive. 
That from the Womb attend Thee to the Grave : 
For w^eary'd Nature find some apter Scheme : 
Health be thy Hope ; and Pleasure be thy Theme : 
From the perplexing and unequal Ways, 
Where Study brings Thee ; from the endless Maze, 
Which Doubt persuades to run, forewarn'd recede, 
To the gay Field, and flow^'ry Path, that lead 
To jocund Mirth, soft Joy, and careless Ease : 
Forsake what may instrudi, for w^hat may please : 
Essay amusing Art, and proud Expence ; 
And make thy Reason subje6l to thy Sense. 

I commun'd thus : the Pov/'r of Wealth I try'd, 
And all the various Luxe of costly Pride. 
Artists and Plans reliev'd my solemn Hours : 
I founded Palaces, and planted Bovi^'rs. 
Birds, Fishes, Beasts of each Exotic Kind 
I to the Limits of my Court confin'd. 
To Trees transferr'd I gave a second Birth ; 
And bid a foreign Shade grace Judah's Earth. 
Fish-ponds were made, where former Forrests grew ; 
And Hills were levell'd to extend the View. 
Rivers diverted from their Native Course, 
And bound with Chains of Artificial Force, 
From large Cascades in pleasing Tumult roll'd ; 
Or rose thro' figur'd Stone, or breathing Gold. 
From furthest Africa's tormented Womb 
The Marble brought ere6ls the spacious Dome ; 
Or forms the Pillars long-extended Rows, 
On which the planted Grove, and pensile Garden grows. 

287 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The Workmen here obey the Master's Call, 
To gild the Turret, and to paint the Wall ; 
To mark the Pavement there with various Stone ; 
And on the Jasper Steps to rear the Throne : 
The spreading Cedar^ that an Age had stood. 
Supreme of Trees, and Mistress of the Wood, 
Cut down and carv'd, my shining Roof adorns ; 
And Lebanon his ruin'd Honor mourns. 

A thousand Artists shew their cunning Pow'r, 
To raise the Wonders of the Iv'ry Tow'r. 
A thousand Maidens ply the purple Loom, 
To weave the Bed, and deck the Regal Room ; 
'Till Tyre confesses her exhausted Store, 
That on her Coast the Murex is no more ; 
'Till from the Parian Isle, and Lybia's Coast, 
The Mountains grieve their hopes of Marble lost ; 
And India's Woods return their just Complaint, 
Their Brood decay 'd, and want of Elephant. 

My full Design with vast Expence atchiev'd, 
I came, beheld, admir'd, refledled, griev'd. 
I chid the Folly of my thoughtless Hast : 
For, the Work perfected, the Joy was past. 

To my new Courts sad Thought did still repair 
And round my gilded Roofs hung hov'ring Care. 
In vain on silken Beds I sought Repose ; 
And restless oft' from purple Couches rose : 
Vexatious Thought still found my flying Mind 
Nor bound by Limits, nor to Place conhn'd ; 
Haunted my Nights, and terrify'd my Days ; 
Stalk'd thro' my Gardens, and pursu'd my Ways, 
Nor shut from artful Bow'r, nor lost in winding Maze. 

Yet take thy Bent, my Soul ; another Sense 
Indulge ; add Music to Magnificence : 
Essay, if Harmony may Grief control! ; 
Or Pow'r of Sound prevail upon the Soul. 
Often our Seers and Poets have confest, 
That Music's Force can tame the furious Beast ; 

288 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Can make the Wolf, or foaming Boar restrain 
His Rage ; the Lion drop his crested Mane, 
Attentive to the Song : the Lynx forget 
His Wrath to Man, and lick the Minstrel's Feet. 
Are we, alas 1 less savage yet than these ? 
Else Music sure may human Cares appease. 

I spake my Purpose ; and the chearful Choir 
Parted their shares of Harmony : the Lyre 
Soften'd the Timbrel's Noise : the Trumpet's Sound 
Provok'd the Dorian Flute (both sweeter found 
When mix'd :) the Fife the Viol's Notes refin'd ; 
And ev'ry Strength with ev'ry Grace was join'd. 
Each Morn they wak'd Me with a sprightly Lay : 
Of opening Heav'n they Sung, and gladsome Day. 
Each Evening their repeated Skill- express'd 
Scenes of Repose, and Images of Rest : 
Yet still in vain : for Music gather'd Thought : 
But how unequal the Effects it brought? 
The soft Ideai of the chearful Note, 
Lightly receiv'd, were easily forgot. 
The solemn Violence of the graver Sound 
Knew to strike deep, and leave a lasting Wound. 

And now reflecting, I with Grief descry 
The sickly Lust of the fantastic Eye ; 
How the weak Organ is with Seeing cloy'd, 
Flying e'er Night what it at Noon enjoy'd. 
And now (unhappy Search of Thought !) I found 
The fickle Ear soon glutted with the Sound, 
Condemn'd eternal Changes to pursue, 
Tir'd with the last, and eager of the New. 

I bad the Virgins and the Youth advance, 
To temper Music with the sprightly Dance. 
In Vain ! too low the Mimic-Motions seem : 
What takes our Heart, must merit our Esteem. 
Nature, I thought, perform'd too mean a Part, 
Forming her Movements to the Rules of Art ; 
And vex'd I found, that the Musician's Hand 
Had o'er the Dancer's Mind too great Command. 

P. T 289 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

I drank ; I lik'd it not : 'twas Rage ; 'twas Noise ; 
An airy Scene of transitory Joys. 
In vain I trusted, that the flowing Bowl 
Would banish Sorrow, and enlarge the Soul. 
To the late Revel, and protrafted Feast 
Wild Dreams succeeded, and disorder'd Rest ; 
And as at Dawn of Morn fair Reason's Light 
Broke thro' the Fumes and Phantoms of the Night ; 
What had been said, I ask'd my Soul, what done ; 
How flow'd our Mirth, and whence the Source begun ? 
Perhaps the Jest that charm'd the sprightly Croud, 
And made the Jovial Table laugh so loud. 
To some false Notion ow'd it's poor Pretence, 
To an ambiguous Word's perverted Sense, 
To a wild Sonnet, or a wanton Air, 
Offence and Torture to the sober Ear. 
Perhaps, alas ! the pleasing Stream was brought 
From this Man's Error, from another's Fault ; 
From Topics which Good-nature would forget, 
And Prudence mention with the last Regret. 

Add yet unnumber'd Ills, that lye unseen 
In the pernicious Draught ; the Word obscene, 
Or harsh, which once elanc'd must ever fly 
Irrevocable ; the too prompt Reply, 
Seed of severe Distrust, and fierce Debate ; 
What We should shun, and what We ought to hate. 

Add too the Blood impoverish'd, and the Course 
Of Health suppress'd, by Wine's continu'd Force. 

Unhappy Man ! whom Sorrow thus and Rage 
To diff'rent Ills alternately engage. 
Who drinks, alas ! but to forget ; nor sees, 
'I'hat melancholy Sloath, severe Disease, 
Mem'ry confus'd, and interrupted Thought, 
Death's Harbingers, lye latent in the Draught : 
And in the Flow'rs that wreath the sparkling Bowl, 
Fell Adders hiss, and poys'nous Serpents roll. 

290 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Remains there Ought untry'd, that may remove 

Sickness of Mind, and heal the Bosom ? Love, 

Love yet remains : Indulge his genial Fire, 
Cherish fair Hope, solicit young Desire, 
And boldly bid thy anxious Soul explore 
This last great Remedy's Mysterious Pow'r. 

Why therefore hesitates my doubtful Breast ? 
Why ceases it one Moment to be blest ? 
Fly swift, my Friends; my Servants, fly; imploy 
Your instant Pains to bring your Master Joy. 
Let all my Wives and Concubines be dress'd : 
Let them to Night attend the Royal Feast ; 
All Israel's Beauty, all the foreign Fair, 
The Gifts of Princes, or the Spoils of War. 
Before their Monarch They shall singly pass ; 
And the most Worthy shall obtain the Grace. 

I said : the Feast vv^as serv'd : the Bovs^l was crown'd ; 
To the King's Pleasure went the mirthful Round : 
The Women came : as Custom wills, they past : 
On One (O that distinguish'd One !) I cast 
The fav'rite Glance : O ! yet my Mind retains 
That fond Beginning of my infant Pains. 
Mature the Virgin was of Egypt's Race : 
Grace shap'd her Limbs ; and Beauty deck'd her Face : 
Easy her Motion seem'd, serene her Air : 
Full, tho' unzon'd, her Bosom rose : her Hair 
Unty'd, and ignorant of artful Aid, ) 

Adown her Shoulders loosely lay display'd ; V 

And in the Jetty Curls ten thousand Cupids play'd. ) 

Fix'd on her Charms, and pleas'd that I could love, 
Aid me my Friends, contribute to improve 
Your Monarch's Bliss, I said ; fresh Roses bring 
To strow my Bed ; 'till the impov'rish'd Spring 
Confess her Want ; around my am'rous Head 
Be dropping Myrrhe, and liquid Amber shed, 
'Till Arab has no more. From the soft Lyre, 
Sweet Flute, and ten-string'd Instrument, require 

T 2 291 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Sounds of Delight : and Thou, fair Nymph, draw nigh ; 
Thou, in whose graceful Form, and potent Eye 
Thy Master's Joy long sought at length is found ; 
And as thy Brow, let my Desires be crown'd ; 
O fav'rite Virgin, that hast warm'd the Breast, 
Whose sov'reign Diftates subjugate the East ! 

I said ; and sudden from the golden Throne 
With a submissive Step I hasted down. 
The glowing Garland from my Hair I took, 
Love in my Heart, Obedience in my Look ; 
Prepar'd to place it on her comely Head : 
O fav'rite Virgin ! (yet again I said) 
Receive the Honors destin'd to thy Brow ; 
And O above thy Fellows happy Thou ! 
Their Duty must thy sov'reign Word obey. 
Rise up, my Love ; my fair One, come away. 

What Pang, alas ! what Ecstasy of Smart 
Tore up my Senses, and transfix'd my Heart ; 
When She with modest Scorn the Wreath return'd, 
Reclin'd her beauteous Neck, and inward mourn'd ? 

Forc'd by my Pride, I my Concern suppress'd 
Pretended Drowsiness, and Wish of Rest ; 
And sullen I forsook th'Imperfedl Feast : 
Ordering the Eunuchs, to whose proper Care 
Our Eastern Grandeur gives th'imprison'd Fair, 
To lead Her forth to a distinguish'd Bow'r, 
And bid her dress the Bed, and wait the Hour. 

Restless I foUow'd this obdurate Maid : 
(Swift are the Steps that Love and Anger tread :) 
Approach'd her Person, courted her Embrace, 
Renew'd my Flame, repeated my Disgrace : 
By Turns put on the Suppliant and the Lord ; 
Threaten'd this Moment, and the next implor'd ; 
OfFer'd again the unaccepted Wreath, 
And Choice of happy Love, or instant Death. 

Averse to all her am'rous King desir'd, 
Far as She might, She decently retir'd j 

292 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And darting Scorn, and Sorrow from her Eyes, 
What means, said She, King Solomon the Wise ? 

This wretched Body trembles at your Pow'r : 
Thus far could Fortune : but She can no more. 
Free to her Self my potent Mind remains ; 
Nor fears the Viftor's Rage, nor feels his Chains. 

'Tis said, that Thou can'st plausibly dispute. 
Supreme of Seers, of Angel, Man, and Brute ; 
Can'st plead, with subtil Wit and fair Discourse, 
Of Passion's Folly, and of Reason's Force. 
That to the Tribes attentive Thou can'st show, 
Whence their Misfortunes, or their Blessings flow. 
That Thou in Science, as in Pow'r art great ; 
And Truth and Honor on Thy Edi6ls wait. 
Where is that Knowledge now, that regal Thought, 
With just Advice, and timely Counsel fraught ? 
Where now, O Judge of Israel, does it rove ? 

What in one Moment dost Thou offer ? Love 

Love ? why 'tis Joy or Sorrow, Peace or Strife : 

'Tis all the Color of remaining Life : 

And Human Mis'ry must begin or end. 

As He becomes a Tyrant, or a Friend. 

Would David's Son, religious, just, and grave. 

To the first Bride-bed of the World receive 

A Foreigner, a Heathen, and a Slave ? 

Or grant, Thy Passion has these Names destroy 'd ; 

That Love, like Death, makes all Distin6tion void j 

Yet in his Empire o'er Thy abjeft Breast, 

His Flames and Torments only are exprest : 

His Rage can in my Smiles alone relent ; 

And all his Joys solicit my Consent. 

Soft Love, spontaneous Tree, it's parted Root 
Must from two Hearts with equal Vigour shoot : 
Whilst each delighted, and delighting, gives 
The pleasing Ecstasy, which each receives : 
Cherish'd with Hope, and fed with Joy it grows : 
It's chearful Buds their opening Bloom disclose ; 
And round the happy Soil diff\isive Odor flows. 



293 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

If angry Fate that mutual Care denies ; 
The fading Plant bewails it's due Supplies : 
Wild with Despair, or sick with Grief, it dies. 

By Force Beasts aft, and are by Force restrain'd ; 
The Human Mind by gentle Means is gain'd. 
Thy useless Strength, mistaken King, employ : 
Sated with Rage, and ignorant of Joy, 
Thou shalt not gain what I deny to yield ; 
Nor reap the Harvest, tho' Thou spoil'st the Field. 
Know, Solomon, Thy poor Extent of Sway ; 
Contrail thy Brow, and Israel shall obey: 
But wilful Love Thou must with Smiles appease ; 
Approach his awful Throne by just Degrees ; 
And if Thou would'st be Happy, learn to please. 

Not that those Arts can here successful prove : 
For I am destin'd to another's Love. 
Beyond the cruel Bounds of Thy Command, 
To my dear Equal, in my Native Land, 
My plighted Vow I gave : I His receiv'd : 
Each swore with Truth : with Pleasure each believ'd. 
The mutual Contrail was to Heav'n convey 'd : 
In equal Scales the busy Angels weigh'd 
It's solemn Force, and clap'd their Wings, and spread 
The lasting Roll, recording what We said. 

Now in my Heart behold Thy Poynard stain'd : 
Take the sad Life which I have long disdain'd : 
End, in a dying Virgin's wretched Fate, 
Thy ill-starr'd Passion, and My steadfast Hate. 
For long as Blood informs these circling Veins ; 
Or fleeting Breath it's latest Pow'r retains ; 
Hear Me to Egypt's vengeful Gods declare, 
Hate is My Part : be Thine, O King, Despair. 

Now strike. She said, and open'd bare her Breast : 
Stand it in Judah's Chronicles confest. 
That David's Son, by impious Passion mov'd. 
Smote a She-Slave, and murder'd what He lov'd. 
294 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Asham'd, confus'd I started from the Bed ; 
And to my Soul yet uncollefted said : 
Into Thy self, fond Solomon, return ; 
Refleft again, and Thou again shalt mourn. 
When I through number'd Years have Pleasure sought ; 
And in vain Hope the wanton Phantom caught ; 
To mock my Sense, and mortify my Pride, 
'Tis in another's Pow'r, and is deny'd. 
Am I a King, great Heav'n ! does Life or Death 
Hang on the Wrath, or Mercy of My Breath ; 
While kneeling I My Servant's Smiles implore ; 
And One mad Dam'sel dares dispute My Pow'r ? 

To Ravish Her ? That Thought was soon depress'd. 
Which must debase the Monarch to the Beast. 
To send Her back ? O whither, and to whom ? 
To Lands where Solomon must never come ; 
To that Insulting Rival's happy Arms, 
For whom, disdaining Me, She keeps her Charms. 

Fantastic Tyrant of the am'rous Heart ; 
How hard Thy Yoke ! how cruel is Thy Dart ! 
Those 'scape Thy Anger, who refuse Thy Sway ; 
And those are punish'd most, who most Obey. 
See Judah's King revere thy greater Pow'r : 
What can'st Thou covet, or how triumph more ? 
Why then, O Love, with an obdurate Ear 
Does this proud Nymph rejeft a Monarch's Pray'r ? 
Why to some simple Shepherd does She run. 
From the fond Arms of David's Fav'rite Son ? 
Why flies She from the Glories of a Court, 
Where Wealth and Pleasure may Thy Reign support. 
To some poor Cottage on the Mountain's Brow, 
Now bleak with Winds, and cover'd now with Snow, 
Where pinching Want must curb her warm Desires, 
And Household Cares suppress Thy Genial Fires ? 

Too aptly the afflidled Heathens prove 
The Force, while they ere6l the Shrines of Love. 
His Mystic Form the Artizans of Greece 
In wounded Stone, or molten Gold express : 

295 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

And Cyprus to his Godhead pays her Vow : 

Fast in his Hand the Idol holds his Bow ; 

A Quiver by his Side sustains a Store 

Of pointed Darts ; sad Emblems of his Pow'r ; 

A pair of Wings He has, which He extends 

Now to be gone ; which now again He bends 

Prone to return, as best may serve his wanton Ends. 

Entirely thus I find the Fiend pourtray'd, 

Since first, alas ! I saw the beauteous Maid : 

I felt Him strike ; and now I see Him fly : 

Curs'd Daemon ! O ! for ever broken lye 

Those fatal Shafts, by which I inward bleed ! 

! can my Wishes yet o'ertake thy Speed ! 

Tir'd may'st Thou pant, and hang thy flagging Wing ; 
Except Thou turn'st Thy Course, resolv'd to bring 
The Dam'sel back, and save the Love-sick King. 

My Soul thus strugling in the fatal Net, 
Unable to enjoy, or to forget ; 

1 reason'd much, alas ! but more I lov'd ; 
Sent and recall'd, ordain'd and disapprov'd : 
'Till hopeless plung'd in an Abyss of Grief, 
I from Necessity receiv'd Relief: 

Time gently aided to asswage my Pain ; 

And Wisdom took once more the slacken'd Rein. 

But O how short My Interval of Woe ! 
Our Griefs how swift ; our Remedies how slow ! 
Another Nymph (for so did Heav'n ordain. 
To change the Manner, but renew the Pain) 
Another Nymph, amongst the many Fair, 
That made My softer Hours their solemn Care, 
Before the rest afFe6ted still to stand ; 
And watch'd My Eye, preventing My Command. 
Abra, She so was call'd, did soonest hast 
To grace my Presence : Abra went the last : 
Abra was ready e'er I call'd her Name ; 
And tho' I call'd another, Abra came. 

Her Equals first observ'd her growing Zeal ; 
And laughing gloss'd, that Abra serv'd so well. 

296 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

To Me her A6lions did unheeded dye, 
Or were remark'd but with a common Eye ; 
'Till more appris'd of what the Rumor said, 
More I observ'd peculiar in the Maid. 

The Sun declin'd had shot his Western Ray ; 
When tir'd with Bus'ness of the solemn Day, 
I purpos'd to unbend the Evening Hours, 
And banquet private in the Women's Bow'rs. 
I call'd, before I sat, to wash My Hands : 
For so the Precept of the Law commands. 
Love had ordain'd, that it was Abra's Turn 
To mix the Sweets, and minister the Urn. 

With awful Homage, and submissive Dread 
The Maid approach'd, on my declining Head 
To pour the Oyls : She trembled as She pour'd ; 
With an unguarded Look She now devour'd 
My nearer Face ; and now recall'd her Eye, 
And heav'd, and strove to hide a sudden Sigh. 
And whence, said I, canst Thou have Dread, or Pain ? 
What can thy Imag'ry of Sorrow mean ? 
Secluded from the World, and all it's Care, 
Hast Thou to grieve or joy, to hope or fear ? 
For sure, I added, sure thy little Heart 
Ne'er felt Love's Anger, or receiv'd his Dart. 

Abash 'd She blush'd, and with Disorder spoke : 
Her rising Shame adorn'd the Words it broke. 

If the great Master will descend to hear 
The humble Series of His Hand-maid's Care ; 
O ! while She tells it, let him not put on 
The Look, that awes the Nations from the Throne : 
O ! let not Death severe in Glory lye 
Li the King's Frown, and Terror of his Eye. 

Mine to obey ; Thy Part is to ordain : 
And tho' to mention, be to sufFer Pain ; 
If the King smiles, whilst I my Woe recite ; \ 

If weeping I find Favour in His Sight ; l 

Flow fast my Tears, full rising his Delight. J 

297 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

O ! Witness Earth beneath, and Heav'n above ; 
For can I hide it ? I am sick of Love : 
If Madness may the Name of Passion bear ; 
Or Love be call'd, what is indeed Despair. 

Thou Sov'reign Pow'r, vs^hose secret Will controlls 
The inward Bent and Motion of our Souls ! 
Why hast Thou plac'd such infinite Degrees 
Between the Cause and Cure of my Disease ? 
The mighty Obje6t of that raging Fire, 
In which unpity'd Abra must expire, 
Had He been born some simple Shepherd's Heir, 
The lowing Herd, or fleecy Sheep his Care ; 
At Morn with him I o'er the Hills had run, \ 

Scornful of Winter's Frost, and Summer's Sun, I 

Still asking, where He made his Flock to rest at Noon. ) 
For him at Night, the dear expefted Guest, 
I had with hasty Joy prepar'd the Feast ; 
And from the Cottage, o'er the distant Plain, 
Sent forth my longing Eye to meet the Swain ; 
Wav'ring, impatient, toss'd by Hope and Fear ; \ 

Till He and Joy together should appear ; v 

And the lov'd Dog declare his Master near. | 

On my declining Neck, and open Breast, 
I should have lull'd the lovely Youth to Rest ; 
And from beneath his Head, at dawning Day, 
With softest Care have stol'n my Arm away ; 
To rise, and from the Fold release the Sheep, 
Fond of his Flock, indulgent to his Sleep. 

Or if kind Heav'n propitious to my Flame 
(For sure from Heav'n the faithful Ardor came) 
Had blest my Life, and deck'd my natal Hour 
With Height of Title, and Extent of Pow'r : 
Without a Crime my Passion had aspir'd. 
Found the lov'd Prince, and told what I desir'd. 

Then 1 had come, preventing Sheba's Queen, 
To see the comeliest of the Sons of Men ; 
To hear the charming Poet's am'rous Song, 
And gather Honey falling from his Tongue ; 

298 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

To take the fragrant Kisses of his Mouth, 

Sweeter than Breezes of her native South ; 

Likening his Grace, his Person, and his Mien 

To all that Great or Beauteous I had seen. 

Serene and bright his Eyes, as solar Beams 

Reflefting temper'd Light from Crystal Streams ; 

Ruddy as Gold his Cheek ; his Bosom fair 

As Silver ; the curl'd Ringlets of his Hair 

Black as the Raven's Wing ; his Lip more red, 

Than Eastern Coral, or the scarlet Thread ; 

Even his Teeth, and white, like a young Flock "j 

Coeval, newly shorn, from the clear Brook >• 

Recent, and blanching on the Sunny Rock. ) 

Iv'ry with Saphirs interspers'd, explains 

How white his Hands, how blue the Manly Veins. 

Columns of polish'd Marble firmly set 

On golden Bases, are his Legs, and Feet. 

His Stature all Majestic, all Divine, / 

Strait as the Palmtree, strong as is the Pine. 

Saffron and Myrrhe are on his Garments shed : 

And everlasting Sweets bloom round his Head. 

What utter I ? where am I ? wretched Maid ! 

Dye, Abra, dye : too plainly hast Thou said 

Thy Soul's Desire to meet His high Embrace, 

And Blessings stamp'd upon thy future Race ; 

To bid attentive Nations bless thy Womb, 

With unborn Monarchs charg'd, and Solomons to come. 

Here o'er her Speech her flowing Eyes prevail. 
O foolish Maid ! and O unhappy Tale ! 
My suff'ring Heart for ever shall defy 
New Wounds, and Danger from a future Eye. 
O ! yet my tortur'd Senses deep retain | 

The wretched Mem'ry of my former Pain, V 

The dire Affront, and my Egyptian Chain. ) 

As Time, I said, may happily efface 
That cruel Image of the King's Disgrace ; 
Imperial Reason shall resume her Seat ; 
And Solomon once fall'n, again be great. 

299 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Betray'd by Passion, as subdu'd in War, 
We wisely should exert a double Care, 
Nor ever ought a second time to Err. 

This Abra then 



I saw Her ; 'twas Humanity : it gave 
Some Respite to the Sorrows of my Slave. 
Her fond Excess proclaim'd her Passion true ; 
And generous Pity to that Truth was due. 
Well I intreated Her, who well deserv'd ; 
I call'd Her often ; for She always serv'd. 
Use made her Person easy to my Sight ; 
And Ease insensibly produc'd Delight. 

Whene'er I revell'd in the Women's Bow'rs ; 
(For first I sought Her but at looser Hours :) 
The Apples She had gather'd smelt most sweet : 
The Cake She kneaded was the sav'ry Meat : 
But Fruits their Odor lost, and Meats their Taste ; 
If gentle Abra had not deck'd the Feast. 
Dishonor'd did the sparkling Goblet stand, 
Unless receiv'd from gentle Abra's Hand : 
And when the Virgins form'd the Evening Choir, 
Raising their Voices to the Master-Lyre ; 
Too flat I thought This Voice, and That too shrill ; 
One show'd too much, and one too little Skill : 
Nor could my Soul approve the Music's Tone ; 
'Till all was hush'd, and Abra Sung alone. 
Fairer She seem'd, distinguish'd from the rest ; 
And better Mein disclos'd, as better drest. 
A bright Tiara round her Forehead ty'd. 
To juster Bounds confin'd it's rising Pride : 
The blushing Ruby on her snowy Breast, 
Render'd it's panting Whiteness more confess'd : 
Bracelets of Pearl gave Roundness to her Arm ; 
And ev'ry Gem augmented ev'ry Charm. 
Her Senses pleas'd, her Beauty still improv'd ; 
And She more lovely grew, as more belov'd. 

And now I could behold, avow, and blame 
The several Follies of my former Flame ; 

300 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Willing my Heart for Recompence to prove 
The certain Joys that lye in prosp'rous Love. 
For what, said I, from Abra can I fear, 
Too humble to insult, too soft to be severe ? 
The Dam'sel's sole Ambition is to please : 
With Freedom I may like, and quit w^ith Ease : 
She sooths, but never can enthrall my Mind : 
Why may not Peace and Love for once be join'd ? 

Great Heav'n ! how^ frail thy Creature Man is made ! 
Hovv^ by Himself insensibly betray'd ! 
In our own Strength unhappily secure, 
Too little cautious of the adverse Povv^'r ; 
And by the Blast of Self-opinion mov'd. 
We w^ish to charm, and seek to be belov'd. 
On Pleasure's flow^ing Brink We idly stray. 
Masters as yet of our returning Way : 
Seeing no Danger, We disarm our Mind ; 
And give our Conduft to the Waves and Wind : 
Then in the flovi^'ry Mead, or verdant Shade 
To wanton Dalliance negligently laid. 
We weave the Chaplet, and We crown the Bowl ; 
And smiling see the nearer Waters roll ; 
'Till the strong Gusts of raging Passion rise ; 
'Till the dire Tempest mingles Earth and Skies ; 
And swift into the boundless Ocean born. 
Our foolish Confidence too late We mourn : 
Round our devoted Heads the Billows beat ; 
And from our troubl'd View the lessen'd Lands retreat. 

O mighty Love ! from thy unbounded Pow'r 
How shall the human Bosom rest secure ? 
How shall our Thought avoid the various Snare ? 
Or Wisdom to our caution'd Soul declare 
The difF'rent Shapes, Thou pleasest to imploy. 
When bent to hurt, and certain to destroy ? 

The haughty Nymph in open Beauty drest, 
To-Day encounters our unguarded Breast : 
She looks with Majesty, and moves with State : 
Unbent her Soul, and in Misfortune great. 
She scorns the World, and dares the Rage of Fate. 



301 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Here whilst we take stern Manhood for our Guide, 
And guard our Condu6l with becoming Pride ; 
Charm'd with the Courage in her A6lion shown, 
We praise her Mind, the Image of our own. 
She that can please, is certain to perswade : 
To-day belov'd, To-morrow is obey'd. 
We think we see thro' Reason's Optics right ; 
Nor find, how Beauty's Rays elude our Sight : 
Struck with her Eye whilst We applaud her Mind ; 
And when We speak Her great. We wish Her kind. 

To-morrow, cruel Pow'r, Thou arm'st the Fair 
With flowing Sorrow, and dishevel'd Hair: 
Sad her Complaint, and humble is her Tale, 
Her Sighs explaining where her Accents fail. 
Here gen'rous Softness warms the honest Breast : 
We raise the sad, and succour the distress'd : 
And whilst our Wish prepares the kind Relief; 
Whilst Pity mitigates her rising Grief: 
We sicken soon from her contagious Care ; 
Grieve for her Sorrows, groan for her Despair ; 
And against Love too late those Bosoms arm. 
Which Tears can soften, and which Sighs can warm. 

Against this nearest cruelest of Foes, 
What shall Wit meditate, or Force oppose ? 
Whence, feeble Nature, shall We summon Aid ; 
If by our Pity, and our Pride betray'd ? 
External Remedy shall We hope to find, 
When the close Fiend has gain'd our treach'rous Mind ; 
Insulting there does Reason's Pow'r deride ; 
And blind Himself, conducts the dazl'd Guide ? 

My Conqueror now, my Lovely Abra held 
My Freedom in her Chains : my Heart was fill'd 
With Her, with Her alone : in Her alone 
It sought it's Peace and Joy : while She was gone. 
It sigh'd, and griev'd, impatient of her Stay : \ 

Return'd, She chas'd those Sighs, that Grief away : | 

Her Absence made the Night: her Presence brought the] 
Day. J 

302 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

The Ball, the Play, the Mask by Turns succeed. 
For Her I make the Song : the Dance with Her I lead. 
I court Her various in each Shape and Dress, 
That Luxury may form, or Thought express. 

To-day beneath the Palm-tree on the Plains 
In Deborah's Arms and Habit Abra reigns : 
The Wreath denoting Conquest guides her Brow : 
And low, like Barak, at her Feet I bow. 
The Mimic Chorus sings her prosp'rous Hand ; 
As She had slain the Foe, and sav'd the Land. 

To-morrow She approves a softer Air ; 
Forsakes the Pomp and Pageantry of War ; 
The Form of peaceful Abigail assumes ; 
And from the Village with the Present comes : 
The Youthful Band depose their glitt'ring Arms ; 
Receive her Bounties, and recite her Charms ; 
Whilst I assume my Father's Step and Mein, 
To meet with due Regard my future Queen. 

If hap'ly Abra's Will be now inclin'd 
To range the Woods, or chace the flying Hind ; 
Soon as the Sun awakes, the sprightly Court 
Leave their Repose, and hasten to the Sport. 
In lessen'd Royalty, and humble State, 
Thy King, Jerusalem, descends to wait, 
'Till Abra comes. She comes : a Milk-white Steed, 
Mixture of Persia's, and Arabia's Breed, 
Sustains the Nymph : her Garments flying loose 
(As the Sydonian Maids, or Thracian use) 
And half her Knee, and half her Breast appear, 
By Art, like Negligence, disclos'd, and bare. 
Her left Hand guides the hunting Courser's Flight : 
A Silver Bow She carries in her Right : 
And from the golden Quiver at her Side, 
Rustles the Ebon Arrow's feather'd Pride. 
Saphirs and Diamonds on her Front display 
An artificial Moon's increasing Ray. 
Diana, Huntress, Mistress of the Groves, 
The fav'rite Abra speaks, and looks, and moves. 



303 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Her, as the present Goddess, I obey : 
Beneath her Feet the captive Game I lay. 
The mingl'd Chorus sings Diana's Fame : 
Clarions and Horns in louder Peals proclaim 
Her Mystic Praise : the vocal Triumphs bound 
Against the Hills : the Hills refleft the Sound. 

If tir'd this Evening with the hunted Woods, 
To the large Fish-pools, or the glassy Floods 
Her Mind To-morrow points ; a thousand Hands 
To-night employ'd, obey the King's Commands. 
Upon the wat'ry Beach an artful Pile 
Of Planks is join'd, and forms a moving Isle. 
A golden Chariot in the Midst is set ; 
And silver Cygnets seem to feel it's Weight. 
Abra, bright Queen, ascends her gaudy Throne, 
In semblance of the Grecian Venus known : 
Tritons and Sea-green Naiads round Her move ; 
And sing in moving Strains the Force of Love : 
Whilst as th'approaching Pageant does appear ; 
And echoing Crouds speak mighty Venus near ; 
I, her Adorer, too devoutly stand 
Fast on the utmost Margin of the Land, 
With Arms and Hopes extended, to receive 
The fancy'd Goddess rising from the Wave. 

O subjedf Reason ! O imperious Love ! 
Whither yet further would My Folly rove ? 
Is it enough, that Abra should be great 
In the wall'd Palace, or the Rural Seat ? 
That masking Habits, and a borrow'd Name 
Contrive to hide my Plenitude of Shame ? 
No, no : Jerusalem combin'd must see 
My open Fault, and Regal Infamy. 
Solemn a Month is destin'd for the Feast : 
Abra Invites : the Nation is the Guest. 
To have the Honor of each Day sustain'd. 
The Woods are travers'd ; and the Lakes are drain'd 
Arabia's Wilds, and Ecjvin-'s are cxplor'd : 
The Edible Creation decks the Board : 
Hardly the Pha-nix 'scapes 

304 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

The Men their Lyres, the Maids their Voices raise, 
To sing my Happiness, and Abra's Praise. 
And slavish Bards our mutual Loves rehearse 
In lying Strains, and ignominious Verse : 
While from the Banquet leading forth the Bride, 
Whom prudent Love from public Eyes should hide ; 
1 show Her to the World, confess'd and known 
Queen of my Heart, and Part'ner of my Throne. 

And now her Friends and Flatt'rers fill the Court : 
From Dan, and from Beersheba They resort : 
They barter Places, and dispose of Grants, 
Whole Provinces unequal to their Wants. 
They teach Her to recede, or to debate ; 
With Toys of Love to mix Affairs of State; 
By pra6tis'd Rules her Empire to secure ; 
And in my Pleasure make my Ruin sure. 
They gave, and She transferr'd the curs'd Advice, 
That Monarchs should their inward Soul disguise. 
Dissemble, and command ; be false, and wise ; 
By ignominious Arts for servile Ends 
Should compliment their Foes, and shun their Friends. 
And now I leave the true and just Supports 
Of Legal Princes, and of honest Courts, 
Barzillai's, and the fierce Benaiah's Heirs ; 
Whose Sires, Great Part'ners in my Father's Cares, 
Saluted their young King at Hebron crown'd, 
Great by their Toil, and glorious by their Wound. 
And now, unhappy Council, I prefer 
Those whom my Follies only made me fear. 
Old Corah's Brood, and taunting Shimei's Race ; 
Miscreants who ow'd their Lives to David's Grace ; 
Tho' they had spurn'd his Rule, and curs'd Him to his Face. 

Still Abra's Pow'r, my Scandal still increas'd ; 
Justice submitted to what A bra pleas'd : 
Her Will alone could settle or revoke ; 
And Law was fix'd by what She latest spoke. 

Israel neglected, Abra was my Care : 
I only ailed, thought, and liv'd for Her. 

p. u 305 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

I durst not reason with my wounded Heart. 
A BR A possess'd ; She was it's better Part. 
O ! had I now review'd the famous Cause, 
Which gave my righteous Youth so just Applause ; 
In vain on the dissembl'd Mother's Tongue 
Had cunning Art, and sly Perswasion hung ; 
And real Care in vain, and native Love 
In the true Parent's panting Breast had strove ; 
While both deceiv'd had seen the destin'd Child 
Or slain, or sav'd, as Abra frown'd or smil'd. 

Unknowing to command, proud to obey, 
A life-less King, a Royal Shade I lay. 
Unhear'd the injur'd Orphans now complain : 
The Widow's Cries address the Throne in vain. 
Causes unjudg'd disgrace the loaded File ; 
And sleeping Laws the King's Negledt revile. 
No more the Elders throng'd around my Throne, 
To hear My Maxims, and reform their own. 
No more the Young Nobility were taught. 
How MosES govern'd, and how David fought. 
Loose and vmdisciplin'd the Soldier lay ; 
Or lost in Drink, and Game, the solid Day : 
Porches and Scholes, design'd for public Good, 
Uncover'd, and with Scaffolds cumber'd stood. 

Or nodded, threat'ning Ruin 

Half Pillars wanted their expec^led Height ; 
And Roofs imperfeft prejudic'd the Sight. 
The Artists grieve ; the lab'ring People droop : 
My Father's Legacy, my Country's Hope, 
God's Temple lies unfinish'd 

The Wise and Grave deplor'd their Monarch's Fate, 
And future Mischiefs of a sinking State. 
Is this, the Serious said, is this the Man, 
Whose adtive Soul thro' every Science ran ? 
Who by just R.ule and elevated Skill 
Prescrib'd the dubious Bounds of Good and 111 .? 
Whose Golden Sayings, and Immortal Wit, 
On large Phyhii-lcries expressive writ. 
Were to the Forehead of the Rahhins ty'd, 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Our Youth's Instruftion, and our Age's Pride ? 
Could not the Wise his wild Desires restrain ? 
Then was our Hearing, and his Preaching vain : 
What from his Life and Letters were we taught, 
But that his Knowledge aggravates his Fault ? 

In lighter Mood the Humorous and the Gay, 
As crown'd with Roses at their Feasts they lay ; 
Sent the full Goblet, charg'd with Abra's Name, 
And Charms superior to their Master's Fame : 
Laughing some praise the King, who let 'em see. 
How aptly Luxe and Empire might agree : 
Some gloss'd, how Love and Wisdom were at Strife ; 
And brought my Proverbs to confront my Life. 
However, Friend, here's to the King, one cries : 
To Him who was the King, the Friend replies. 
The King, for Judah's, and for Wisdom's Curse, 
To Abra yields : could I, or Thou do worse ? 
Our looser Lives let Chance or Folly steer; 
If thus the Prudent and Determin'd err. 
Let Dinah bind with Flowers her flowing Hair ; 
And touch the Lute, and sound the wanton Air : 
Let Us the Bliss without the Sting receive. 
Free, as We will, or to injoy, or leave. 
Pleasures on Levity's smooth Surface flow : 
Thought brings the Weight, that sinks the Soul to Woe. 
Now be this Maxim to the King convey 'd. 
And added to the Thousand He has made. 

Sadly, O Reason, is thy Pow'r express'd, 
Thou gloomy Tyrant of the frighted Breast ! 
And harsh the Rules, which We from Thee receive ; j 

If for our Wisdom We our Pleasure give ; > 

And more to think be only more to grieve. ) 

If Judah's King at thy Tribunal try'd. 
Forsakes his Joy to vindicate his Pride ; 
And changing Sorrows, I am only found 
Loos'd from the Chains of Love, in Thine more striftly bound. 

But do I call Thee Tyrant, or complain, 
How hard thy Laws, how absolute thy Reign ? 

u 2 307 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

While Thou, alas ! art but an empty Name, 

To no Two Men, who e'er discours'd, the same ; 

The idle Product of a troubled Thought, 

In borrow'd Shapes, and airy Colors wrought ; 

A fancy'd Line, and a reflefted Shade ; 

A Chain which Man to fetter Man has made. 

By Artifice impos'd, by Fear obey'd. 

Yet, wretched Name, or Arbitrary Thing, 
Whence ever I thy cruel Essence bring, 
I own thy Influence ; for I feel thy Sting. 
Reluctant I perceive thee in my Soul, 
Form'd to command, and destin'd to control. 
Yes ; thy insulting Dictates shall be heard : 
Virtue for once shall be Her own Reward : 
Yes ; Rebel Israel, this unhappy Maid 
Shall be dismiss'd : the Crowd shall be obey'd : 
The King his Passion, and his Rule shall leave, 
No longer Abra's, but the People's Slave. 
My Coward Soul shall bear it's wayward Fate : 
I will, alas ! be wretched, to be great ; 
And sigh in Royalty, and grieve in State. 

I said : resolv'd to plunge into my Grief 
At once so far, as to expe(i;t Relief 

From my Despair alone 

I chose to write the Thing I durst not speak, 
To Her I lov'd ; to Her I must forsake. 
The harsh Epistle labour'd much to prove, 
How inconsistent Majesty, and Love. 
I always should. It said, esteem Her well ; 
But never see her more : It bid Her feel 
No future Pain for Me ; but instant wed 
A Lover more proportion'd to her Bed ; 
And quiet dedicate her remnant Life 
To the just Duties of an humble Wife. 

She read ; and forth to Me She wildly ran. 
To Me, the Ease of all her former Pain. 
She kneel'd intreatcd, struggl'd, threaten'd, cry'd ; 

308 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And with alternate Passion liv'd, and dy'd : 

'Till now deny'd the Liberty to mourn, 

And by rude Fury from my Presence torn, 

This only Obje61: of my real Care, 

Cut ofF from Hope, abandon'd to Despair, 

In some few posting fatal Hours is hurl'd 

From Wealth, from Pow'r, from Love, and from the World. 

Here tell Me, if Thou dar'st, my conscious Soul, 
What difF'rent Sorrows did within Thee roll : 
What Pangs, what Fires, what Racks didst Thou sustain. 
What sad Vicissitudes of smarting Pain ? 
How oft from Pomp and State did I remove, \ 

To feed Despair, and cherish hopeless Love ? 
How oft, all Day, recall'd I Abra's Charms, 
Her Beauties press'd, and panting in my Arms ? 
How oft, with Sighs, view'd every Female Face, 
Where mimic Fancy might her Likeness trace ? 
How oft desir'd to fly from Israel's Throne, 
And live in Shades with Her and Love alone ? 
How oft, all Night, pursu'd Her in my Dreams, 
O'er flow'ry Vallies, and thro' Crystal Streams ; 
And waking, view'd with Grief the rising Sun, 
And fondly mourn'd the dear Delusion gone ? 

When thus the gather'd Storms of wretched Love 
In my swoln Bosom, with long War had strove ; 
At length they broke their Bounds : at length their Force 
Bore down whatever met it's stronger Course : 
Lay'd all the Civil Bonds of Manhood waste ; 
And scatter'd Ruin as the Torrent past. 

So from the Hills, whose hollow Caves contain 
The congregated Snow, and swelling Rain ; 
'Till the full Stores their antient Bounds disdain ; 
Precipitate the furious Torrent flows : 
In vain would Speed avoid, or Strength oppose :' 
Towns, Forests, Herds, and Men promiscuous drown'd. 
With one great Death deform the dreary Ground ; 
The echo'd Woes from distant Rocks resound. 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

And now what impious Ways my Wishes took ; 
How they the Monarch, and the Man forsook ; 
And how I follow'd an abandon'd Will, 
Thro' crooked Paths, and sad Retreats of 111 ; 
How Judah's Daughters now, now foreign Slaves, 
By turns my prostituted Bed receives. 
Thro' Tribes of Women how I loosely rang'd 
Impatient ; lik'd To-night, To-morrow chang'd ; 
And by the Instinct of capricious Lust, 
Enjoy'd, disdain'd, was grateful, or unjust : 
O, be these Scenes from human Eyes conceal'd, 
In Clouds of decent Silence justly veil'd ! 
O, be the wanton Images convey'd 
To black Oblivion, and eternal Shade ! 
Or let their sad Epitome alone, 
And outward Lines to future Age be known. 
Enough to propagate the sure Belief, 
That Vice engenders Shame ; and Folly broods o'er Grief. 

Bury'd in Sloth, and lost in Ease I lay : 
The Night I revell'd ; and I slept the Day. 
New Heaps of Fewel damp'd my kindling Fires ; 
And daily Change extinguish'd young Desires. 
By its own Force destroy'd. Fruition ceas'd ; 
And always weary'd, I was never pleas'd. 
No longer now does my negleiled Mind 
It's wonted Stores, and old Ideas find. 
Fix'd Judgment there no longer does abide, 
To take the True, or set the False aside. 
No longer does swift Mem'ry trace the Cells, 
Where springing Wit, or young Invention dwells. 
Frequent Debauch to Habitude prevails : 
Patience of Toil, and Love of Virtue fails. 
By sad Degrees impair'd my Vigor dyes ; 
Till I Command no longer ev'n in Vice. 

The Women on my Dotage build their Sway : 
They ask ; I grant : They threaten ; I obey. 
In Regal Garments now I gravely stride, 
Aw'd by the Persian Dam'sel's haughty Pride. 

310 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Now with the looser Syrian dance, and sing, 
In Robes tuck'd up, opprobrious to the King. 

Charm'd by their Eyes, their Manners I acquire ; 
And shape my Foolishness to their Desire. 
Seduc'd and aw'd by the Philistine Dame, 
At Dagon's Shrine I kindle impious Flame. 
With the Chaldean's Charms her Rites prevail ; 
And curling Frankincense ascends to Baal. 
To each new Harlot I new Altars dress ; 
And serve Her God, whose Person I caress. 

Where, my deluded Sense, was Reason flown ? 
Where the high Majesty of David's Throne ? 
Where all the Maxims of Eternal Truth, 
With which the Living GOD inform 'd my Youth ? 
When with the lewd Egyptian I adore 
Vain Idols, Deities that ne'er before 
In Israel's Land had fix'd their dire Abodes, 
Beastly Divinities, and Droves of Gods : 
Osiris, Apis, Pow'rs that chew the Cud, 
And Dog Anubis, Flatt'rer for his Food : 
When in the Woody Hill's forbidden Shade 
I carv'd the Marble, and invok'd it's Aid : 
When in the Fens to Snakes and Flies, with Zeal 
Unworthy human Thought, I prostrate fell ; 
To Shrubs and Plants my vile Devotion paid ; 
And set the bearded Leek, to which I pray'd : 
When to all Beings Sacred Rites were giv'n ; 
Forgot the Arbiter of Earth and Heav'n. 

Thro' these sad Shades, this Cbaos in my Soul, 
Some Seeds of Light at length began to roll. 
The rising Motion of an Infant Ray 
Shot glimm'ring thro' the Cloud, and promis'd Day. 
And now one Moment able to refleft, ] 

I found the King abandon'd to Negledt, |- 

Seen without Awe, and serv'd without Respeft. ) 

I found my Subjects amicably joyn. 
To lessen their Defefts, by citing Mine. 

3" 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The Priest with Pity pray'd for David's Race ; 
And left his Text, to dwell on my Disgrace. 
The Father, whilst he warn'd his erring Son, 
The sad Examples which He ought to shun, 
Describ'd, and only nam'd not, Solomon. 
Each Bard, each Sire did to his Pupil sing, 
A Wise Child better than a Foolish King. 

Into My self my Reason's Eye I turn'd ; 
And as I much reflected, much I mourn'd. 
A Mighty King I am, an Earthly God : 
Nations obey my Word, and wait my Nod. 
I raise or sink, imprison or set free ; 
And Life or Death depends on My Decree. 
Fond the Idea^ and the Thought is vain : 
O'er Judah's King ten thousand Tyrants reign. 
Legions of Lust, and various Pow'rs of 111 
Insult the Master's Tributary Will : 
And He, from whom the Nations should receive 
Justice, and Freedom, lyes Himself a Slave, 
Tortur'd by cruel Change of wild Desires, 
Lash'd by mad Rage, and scorch'd by brutal Fires. 

O Reason ! once again to Thee I call : 
Accept my Sorrow, and retrieve my Fall. 
Wisdom, Thou say'st, from Heav'n receiv'd her Birth ; 
Her Beams transmitted to the subject Earth. 
Yet this great Empress of the human Soul 
Does only with imagin'd Pow'r controul ; 
If restless Passion by Rebellious Sway 
Compells the weak Usurper to obey. 

O troubled, weak, and Coward, as thou art ! 
Without thy poor Advice the lab'ring Heart 
To worse Extremes with swifter Steps would run, 
Not sav'd by Virtue, yet by Vice undone. 

Oft have I said, the Praise of doing well 
Is to the Ear, as Oyntment to the Smell. 
Now if some Flies perchance, however small, 
Into the Alabaster Urn should fall ; 

312 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

The Odors of the Sweets inclos'd would dye ; 

And Stench corrupt (sad Change !) their Place supply. 

So the least Faults, if mix'd with fairest Deed, 

Of future 111 become the fatal Seed : 

Into the Balm of purest Virtue cast, 

Annoy all Life with one contagious Blast. 

Lost Solomon ! pursue this Thought no more : 
Of thy past Errors recolleft the Store : 
And silent weep, that while the Deathless Muse 
Shall sing the Just ; shall o'er their Head diffuse 
Perfumes with lavish Hand ; She shall proclaim 
Thy Crimes alone ; and to Thy evil Fame 
Impartial, scatter Damps, and Poysons on thy Name. 

Awaking therefore, as who long had dream'd. 
Much of my Women, and their Gods asham'd, 
From this Abyss of exemplary Vice 
Resolv'd, as Time might aid my Thought, to rise ; 
Again I bid the mournful Goddess write 
The fond Pursuit of fugitive Delight : 
Bid her exalt her melancholy Wing, 
And rais'd from Earth, and sav'd from Passion, sing 
Of human Hope by cross Event destroy'd, 
Of useless Wealth, and Greatness unenjoy'd, 
Of Lust and Love, with their fantastic Train, 
Their Wishes, Smiles, and Looks deceitful all, and vain. 



313 



MATTHEW PRIOR 



POJVER; 

THE 
THIRD BOOK. 

The ARGUMENT. 

SOLOMON considers Man through the several Stages and 
Conditions of Life ; and condudes in general^ that IVe are 
all Miserable. He reflects more particularly upon the Trouble 
and Uncertainty of Greatness and Power; gives some Instances 
thereof from Adam down to Himself; and still concludes that 
All is Vanity. He reasons again upon Life^ Death^ and a 
future Being; finds Human Wisdom too imperfeti to resolve 
his Doubts ; has Recourse to Religion ; is informed by an Angel^ 
what shall happen to Himself^ his Family^ and his Kingdom^ 
^till the Redemption of Israel : and^ upon the whole^ resolves to 
submit his Enquiries and Anxieties to the JVill of his Creator. 



314 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 



TEXTS chiefly alluded to in this Book, 

Or ever the Silver Cord be loosed, or the golden Bowl be 
broken, or the Pitcher be broken at the Fountain, or the Wheel 
broken at the Cistern. Ecclesiastes, Chap. XII. Vers. 6. 

The Sun ariseth, and the Sun goeth down, and hasteth to 
his Place where He arose. Ecclesiastes, Chap. I. Vers. 5. 

The Wind goeth towards the South, and turneth about 
unto the North. It whirleth about continually; and the Wind 
returneth again according to his Circuit. Vers. 6. 

All the Rivers run into the Sea : yet the Sea is not full. 
Unto the Place from whence the Rivers come, thither they 
return again. Vers. 7. 

Then shall the Dust return to the Earth, as it was : and 
the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes, 
Chap. XII. Vers. 7. 

Now when Solomon had made an End of Praying, the 
Fire came down from Heaven, and consumed the Burnt- 
offering, and the Sacrifices ; and the Glory of the Lord filled 
the House. II Chronicles, Chap. VII. Vers. i. 

By the Rivers of Babylon, there We sat down ; Yea We 
wept, when We remembred Sion ^c. Psalm CXXXVII. 
Vers. I. 

I said of Laughter, it is mad ; and of Mirth, what doeth it ? 
Ecclesiastes, Chap. II. Vers. 2. 

No Man can find out the Work that God maketh, 

from the Beginning to the End. Ecclesiastes, Chap. III. 
Vers. II. 

Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever : nothing can 
be put to it, nor any thing taken from it : and God doeth it, 
that Men should fear before Him. Vers. 14. 

Let us hear the Conclusion of the whole Matter ; Fear 
God, and keep his Commandments ; for this is the whole 
Duty of Man, Ecclesiastes, Chap. XII. Verse. 13. 

315 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

POWER; 

THE 
THIRD BOOK. 



COME then, my Soul : I call Thee by that Name, 
Thou busie Thing, from whence I know I am : 
For knowing that I am, I know Thou art j 
Since That must needs exist, which can impart. 
But how Thou cam'st to be, or whence Thy Spring : 
For various of Thee Priests and Poets sing. 

Hear'st Thou submissive, but a lowly Birth, 
Some sep'rate Particles of finer Earth, 
A plain Effeft, which Nature must beget, 
As Motion orders, and as Atoms meet ; 
Companion of the Body's Good or 111, 
From Force of Instin6t more than Choice of Will ; 
Conscious of Fear or Valor, Joy or Pain, 
As the wild Courses of the Blood ordain ; 
Who as Degrees of Heat and Cold prevail, 
In Youth dost flourish, and with Age shalt fail ; 
'Till mingl'd with thy Part'ner's latest Breath 
Thou fly'st, dissolv'd in Air, and lost in Death. 

Or if Thy great Existence would aspire 
To Causes more sublime ; of Heav'nly Fire 
Wer't Thou a Spark struck ofi-', a sep'rate Ray, 
Ordain'd to mingle with Terrestrial Clay ; 
With it condemn'd for certain Years to dwell. 
To grieve it's Frailties, and it's Pains to feel ; 
To teach it Good and 111, Disgrace or Fame ; 
Pale it with Rage, or redden it with Shame : 
To guide it's A(^tions with informing Care, 
In Peace to Judge, to Conquer in the War ; 

316 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Render it Agile, Witty, Valiant, Sage, 

As fits the various Course of human Age ; 

Till as the Earthly Part decays and falls, 

The Captive breaks Her Prison's mould'ring Walls ; 

Hovers a-while upon the sad Remains, 

Which now the Pile, or Sepulchre contains j 

And thence w^ith Liberty unbounded flies, 

Impatient to regain Her native Skies. 

Whate'er Thou art, v^here-e'er ordain'd to go : 
(Points which We rather may dispute, than know) 
Come on, Thou little Inmate of this Breast, 
Which for Thy Sake from Passions I divest : 
For these. Thou say'st, raise all the stormy Strife, 
Which hinder Thy Repose, and trouble Life. 
Be the fair Level of Thy Aftions laid, 
As Temp'rance wills, and Prudence may perswade ; 
Be Thy Affections undisturb'd and clear, 
Guided to what may Great or Good appear ; 
And try if Life be worth the Liver's Care. 

Amass'd in Man there justly is beheld 
What thro' the whole Creation has excell'd : 
The Life and Growth of Plants, of Beasts the Sense, 
The Angel's Forecast and Intelligence : 
Say from these glorious Seeds what Harvest flows ; 
Recount our Blessings, and compare our Woes. 
In it's true Light let clearest Reason see 
The Man dragg'd out to A61, and forc'd to Be ; 
Helpless and Naked on a Woman's Knees \ 

To be expos'd or rear'd as She may please ; >• 

Feel her Negleft, and pine from her Disease. ) 

His tender Eye by too direct a Ray 
Wounded, and flying from unpraftis'd Day ; 
His Heart assaulted by invading Air, 
And beating fervent to the vital War ; 
To his Young Sense how various Forms appear j 
That strike his Wonder, and excite his Fear ? 
By his Distortions he reveals his Pains ; 
He by his Tears, and by his Sighs complains ; 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

'Till Time and Use assist the Infant Wretch, 
By broken Words, and Rudiments of Speech, 
His Wants in plainer Characters to show, 
And paint more perfeft Figures of his Woe. 
Condemn'd to sacrifice his childish Years 
To babling Ign'rance, and to empty Fears ; 
To pass the riper Period of his Age, 
A6ling his Part upon a crowded Stage ; 
To lasting Toils expos'd, and endless Cares, 
To open Dangers, and to secret Snares ; 
To Malice which the vengeful Foe intends, 
And the more dangerous Love of seeming Friends. 
His Deeds examin'd by the People's Will, 
Prone to forget the Good, and blame the 111 : 
Or sadly censur'd in their curs'd Debate, 
Who in the Scorner's, or the Judge's Seat 
Dare to condemn the Virtue which They hate. 
Or would he rather leave this frantic Scene ; 
And Trees and Beasts prefer to Courts and Men ? 
In the remotest Wood and lonely Grott 
Certain to meet that worst of Evils, Thought ; 
DifF'rent Ideas to his Mem'ry brought : 
Some intricate, as are the pathless Woods ; 
Impetuous some, as the descending Floods : 
With anxious Doubts, with raging Passions torn. 
No sweet Companion near with whom to mourn ; 
He hears the Echoing Rock return his Sighs ; 
And from himself the frighted Hermit flies. 

Thus, thro' what Path soe'er of Life We rove. 
Rage companies our Hate, and Grief our Love : 
Vex'd with the present Moment's heavy Gloom, 
Why seek We Brightness from the Years to come ? 
Disturb'd and broken like a sick Man's Sleep, 
Our troubl'd Thoughts to distant Prospers leap ; 
Desirous still what flies us to o'ertake : 
For Hope is but the Dream of Those that wake : 
But looking back, We see the dreadful Train 
Of Woes, a-new which were We to sustain. 
We should refuse to tread the Path again. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Still adding Grief, still counting from the first ; 

Judging the latest Evils still the worst ; 

And sadly finding each progressive Hour 

Heighten their Number, and augment their Pow'r ; 

Till by one countless Sum of Woes opprest, 

Hoary with Cares, and Ignorant of Rest, 

We find the vital Springs relax'd and worn : 

Compell'd our common Impotence to mourn. 

Thus, thro' the Round of Age, to Childhood We return j 

Reflecting find, that naked from the Womb 

We yesterday came forth ; that in the Tomb 

Naked again We must To-morrow lye, 

Born to lament, to labor, and to dye. 

Pass We the Ills, which each Man feels or dreads, 
The Weight or fall'n, or hanging o'er our Heads ; 
The Bear, The Lyon, Terrors of the Plain, 
The Sheepfold scatter'd, and the Shepherd slain ; 
The frequent Errors of the pathless Wood, 
The giddy Precipice, and the dang'rous Flood : 
The noisom Pest'lence, that in open War 
Terrible, marches thro' the Mid-day Air, 
And scatters Death ; the Arrow that by Night 
Cuts the dank Mist, and fatal wings it's Flight ; 
The billowing Snow, and Violence of the Show'r, 
That from the Hills disperse their dreadful Store, 
And o'er the Vales collected Ruin pour ; 
The Worm that gnaws the ripening Fruit, sad Guest, 
Canker or Locust hurtful to infest 
The Blade ; while Husks elude the Tiller's Care, 
And Eminence of Want distinguishes the Year. 

Pass we the slow Disease, and subtil Pain, 
Which our weak Frame is destin'd to sustain ; 
The cruel Stone, with congregated War 
Tearing his bloody Way; the cold Catarrh, 
With frequent Impulse, and continu'd Strife, 
Weak'ning the wasted Seats of irksom Life ; 
The Gout's fierce Rack, the burning Feaver's Rage, 
The sad Experience of Decay ; and Age, 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Her self the soarest 111 ; while Death, and Ease, 
Oft and in vain invok'd, or to appease, 
Or end the Grief, with hasty Wings receed 
From the vext Patient, and the sickly Bed. 

Nought shall it profit, that the charming Fair, 
Angelic, softest Work of Heav'n, draws near 
To the cold shaking paralytic Hand, 
Senseless of Beauty's Touch, or Love's Command, 
Nor longer apt, or able to fulfill 
The Didates of it's feeble Master's Will. 

Nought shall the Psaltry, and the Harp avail, 
The pleasing Song, or well repeated Tale, 
When the quick Spirits their warm March forbear ; 
And numbing Coldness has unbrac'd the Ear. 

The verdant Rising of the flow'ry Hill, 
The Vale enamell'd, and the Crystal Rill, 
The Ocean rolling, and the shelly Shoar, 
Beautiful Objefts, shall delight no more ; 
When the lax'd Sinews of the weaken'd Eye 
In wat'ry Damps, or dim Suffusion lye. 
Day follows Night ; the Clouds return again 
After the falling of the later Rain : 
But to the Aged-blind shall ne'er return 
Grateful Vicissitude: He still must mourn 
The Sun, and Moon, and ev'ry Starry Light 
Eclips'd to Him, and lost in everlasting Night. 

Behold where Age's wretched Vidim lies : 
See his Head trembling, and his half-clos'd Eyes : 
Frequent for Breath his panting Bosom heaves : 
To broken Sleeps his remnant Sense He gives ; 
And only by his Pains, awaking finds He Lives. 

Loos'd by devouring Time the Silver Cord 
Dissever'd lies : unhonor'd from the Board 
The Crystal Urn, when broken, is thrown by ; 
And apter Utensils their Place supply. 
These Things and Thou must share One equal Lot ; 
Dye and be lost, corrupt and be forgot ; 

320 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

While still another, and another Race 
Shall now supply, and now give up the Place. 
From Earth all came, to Earth must all return ; 
Frail as the Cord, and brittle as the Urn. 

But be the Terror of these Ills suppress'd : 
And view We Man with Health and Vigor blest. 
Home He returns with the declining Sun, 
His destin'd Task of Labor hardly done j 
Goes forth again with the ascending Ray, \ 

Again his Travel for his Bread to pay, V 

And find the 111 sufficient to the Day. ) 

Hap'ly at Night He does with Horror shun 
A widow'd Daughter, or a dying Son : 
His Neighbor's Off^-spring He To-morrow sees ; 
And doubly feels his Want in their Increase : 
The next Day, and the next he must attend 
His Foe triumphant, or his buried Friend. 
In ev'ry Aft and Turn of Life he feels 
Public Calamities, or Household Ills : 
The due Reward to just Desert refus'd : 
The Trust betray'd, the Nuptial Bed abus'd : 
The Judge corrupt, the long depending Cause, 
And doubtful Issue of misconstru'd Laws : 
The crafty Turns of a dishonest State, 
And violent Will of the wrong-doing Great : 
The Venom'd Tongue injurious to his Fame, 
Which nor can Wisdom shun, nor fair Advice reclaim. 

Esteem We these, my Friends, Event and Chance, 
Produc'd as Atoms form their flutt'ring Dance ? 
Or higher yet their Essence may We draw 
From destin'd Order, and Eternal Law ? 
Again, my Muse, the cruel Doubt repeat : 
Spring they, I say, from Accident, or Fate ? 
Yet such. We find, they are, as can controll 
The servile Aftions of our wav'ring Soul ; 
Can fright, can alter, or can chain the Will ; 
Their Ills all built on Life, that fundamental 111. 

O fatal Search ! in which the lab'ring Mind, 
Still press'd with Weight of Woe, still hopes to find 

P. X 321 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

A Shadow of Delight, a Dream of Peace, 

From Years of Pain, one Moment of Release ; 

Hoping at least She may Her self deceive, \ 

Against Experience willing to believe, > 

Desirous to rejoice, condemn'd to grieve. ) 

Happy the Mortal Man, who now at last 
Has thro' this doleful Vale of Mis'ry past ; 
Who to his destin'd Stage has carry'd on 
The tedious Load, and laid his Burden down ; 
Whom the cut Brass, or wounded Marble shows 
Viftor o'er Life, and all Her Train of Woes. 
He happyer yet, who privileg'd by Fate 
To shorter Labor, and a lighter Weight, 
Receiv'd but Yesterday the Gift of Breath, 
Order'd To-morrow to return to Death. 
But O ! beyond Description happyest He, 
Who ne'er must roll on Life's tumultuous Sea ; 
Who with bless'd Freedom from the gen'ral Doom \ 

Exempt, must never force the teeming Womb, l 

Nor see the Sun, nor sink into the Tomb. ) 

Who breaths, must suffer; and who thinks, must mourn; 
And He alone is bless'd, who ne'er was born. 

"Yet in thy turn. Thou frowning Preacher, hear: 
"Are not these general Maxims too severe? 
"Say: cannot Pow'r secure it's Owner's Bliss? \ 

"And is not Wealth the potent Sire of Peace? \ 

"Are Victors bless'd with Fame, or Kings with Ease? j 

I tell Thee, Life is but one common Care ; 
And Man was born to suffer, and to fear. 

"But is no Rank, no Station, no Degree 
"From this contagious Taint of Sorrow free? 

None, Mortal, None : Yet in a bolder Strain 
Let Me this melancholy Truth maintain : 
But hence. Ye Worldly, and Prophane, retire : 
For I adapt my Voice, and raise my Lyre 
To Notions not by Vulgar Ear receiv'd : 
Ye still must covet Life, and be deceiv'd : 

322 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Your very Fear of Death shall make Ye try 

To catch the Shade of Immortality ; 

Wishing on Earth to linger, and to save 

Part of it's Prey from the devouring Grave ; 

To those who may survive Ye, to bequeath 

Something entire, in spight of Time, and Death ; 

A fancy'd Kind of Being to retrieve. 

And in a Book, or from a Building live. 

False Hope ! vain Labor ! let some Ages fly : 

The Dome shall moulder, and the Volume dye : 

Wretches, still taught, still will Ye think it strange, 

That all the Parts of this great Fabric change ; 

Quit their old Station, and Primaeval Frame ; 

And lose their Shape, their Essence, and their Name ? 

Reduce the Song : our Hopes, our Joys are vain : 
Our Lot is Sorrow; and Our Portion Pain. 

What Pause from Woe, what Hopes of Comfort bring 
The Name of Wise or Great, of Judge or King ? 
What is a King ? A Man condemn'd to bear 
The public Burden of the Nation's Care ; 
Now crown'd some angry Faction to appease ; 
Now falls a Viftim to the People's Ease : 
From the first blooming of his ill-taught Youth, 
Nourish'd in Flatt'ry, and estrang'd from Truth : 
At Home surrounded by a servile Crowd, 
Prompt to abuse, and in Detraftion loud : 
Abroad begirt with Men, and Swords, and Spears ; 
His very State acknowledging his Fears : 
Marching amidst a thousand Guards, He shows 
His secret Terror of a thousand Foes ; 
In War however Prudent, Great, or Brave, 
To blind Events, and fickle Chance a Slave : 
Seeking to settle what for ever flies ; 
Sure of the Toil, uncertain of the Prize. 

But He returns with Conquest on his Brow; 
Brings up the Triumph, and absolves the Vow: 
The Captive Generals to his Carr are ty'd : 
The Joyful Citizens tumultuous Tyde 
Echoing his Glory, gratify his Pride. 

X2 323 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

What is this Triumph ? Madness, Shouts, and Noise, 

One great Colleftion of the People's Voice. 

The Wretches he brings back, in Chains relate, 

What may To-morrow be the Viftor's Fate. 

The Spoils and Trophies born before Him, show 

National Loss, and Epidemic Woe, 

Various Distress, which He and His may know. 

Does He not mourn the valiant Thousands slain ; 

The Heroes, once the Glory of the Plain, 

Left in the Conflict of the Fatal Day, 

Or the Wolve's Portion, or the Vulture's Prey ? 

Does He not weep the Lawrel, which he wears, 

Wet with the Soldier's Blood, and Widow's Tears ^ 

See, where He comes, the Darling of the War ! 
See Millions crowding round the gilded Car ! 
In the vast Joys of this Ecstatic Hour, 
And full Fruition of successful Pow'r, 
One Moment and one Thought might let Him scan 
The various Turns of Life, and fickle State of Man. 

Are the dire Images of sad Distrust, 
And Popular Change, obscur'd a-mid the Dust, 
That rises from the Vi(Jtor's rapid Wheel ? 
Can the loud Clarion, or shrill Fife repel 
The inward Cries of Care .? can Nature's Voice 
Plaintive be drown'd, or lessen'd in the Noise ; 
Tho' Shouts as Thunder loud afflict: the Air ; 
Stun the Birds now releas'd, and shake the Iv'ry Chair ? 

Yon' Crowd (He might reflec^t) yon' joyful Crowd, 
Pleas'd with my Honors, in my Praises loud, 
(Should fleeting Vift'ry to the Vanquish'd go ; 
Should She depress my Arms, and raise the Foe ;) 
Would for That Foe with equal Ardor wait 
At the high Palace, or the crowded Gate ; 
With restless Rage would pull my Statues down ; 
And cast the Brass a-new to His Renown. 

O impotent Desire of Worldly Sway ! 
That I, who make the Triumph of To-day, 

324 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

May of To-morrow's Pomp one Part appear, 
Ghastly with Wounds, and lifeless on the Bier ! 
Then (Vileness of Mankind !) then of all These, 
Whom my dilated Eye with Labor sees. 
Would one, alas ! repeat Me Good, or Great ? 
Wash my pale Body, or bewail my Fate ? 
Or, march'd I chain'd behind the Hostile Carr, 
The Viftor's Pastime, and the Sport of War; 
Would One, would One his pitying Sorrow lend. 
Or be so poor, to own He was my Friend ? 

Avails it then, O Reason, to be Wise ? 
To see this cruel Scene with quicker Eyes ? 
To know with more Distinction to complain. 
And have superior Sense in feeling Pain ? 

Let us revolve that Roll with strictest Eye, 
Where safe from Time distinguish'd Aftions lye ; 
And judge if Greatness be exempt from Pain, 
Or Pleasure ever may with Pow'r remain. 

Adam, great Type^ for whom the World was made, 
The fairest Blessing to his Arms convey'd, 
A charming Wife ; and Air, and Sea, and Land, 
And all that move therein, to his Command 
Render'd obedient : say, my Pensive Muse, 
What did these golden Promises produce ? 
Scarce tasting Life, He was of Joy bereav'd : 
One Day, I think, in Paradise He liv'd ; 
Destin'd the next His Journey to pursue. 
Where wounding Thorns, and cursed Thistles grew. 
E'er yet He earns his Bread, a-down his Brow, 
Inclin'd to Earth, his lab'ring Sweat must flow : 
His Limbs must ake, with daily Toils oppress'd ; 
E'er long-wish'd Night brings necessary Rest : 
Still viewing with Regret his Darling Eve, 
He for Her Follies, and His own must grieve. 
Bewailing still a-fresh their hapless Choice ; 
His Ear oft frighted with the imag'd Voice 
Of Heav'n, when first it thunder'd ; oft his View 
A-ghast, as when the Lifant Light'ning flew ; 

325 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

A.nd the stern Cherub stop'd the fatal Road, 
Arni'd with the Flames of an Avenging GOD. 
His Younger Son on the polluted Ground, 
First Fruit of Death, lies Plaintif of a Wound 
Giv'n by a Brother's Hand : His Eldest Birth 
Flies, marlc'd by Heav'n, a Fugitive o'er Earth. 
Yet why these Sorrows heap'd upon the Sire, 
Becomes nor Man, nor Angel to enquire. 

Each Age sinn'd on ; and Guilt advanc'd with Time : 
The Son still added to the Father's Crime ; 
'Till God arose, and great in Anger said : 
Lo ! it repenteth Me, that Man was made. 
Withdraw thy Light, Thou Sun ! be dark, Ye Skies ! 
And from your deep Abyss, Ye Waters, rise ! 

The frighted Angels heard th'Almighty Lord ; ] 

And o'er the Earth from wrathful Viols pour'd [■ 

Tempests and Storm, obedient to His Word. ) 

Mean time, His Providence to Noah gave 
The Guard of All, that He design'd to save. 
Exempt from general Doom the Patriarch stood ; 
Contemn'd the Waves, and triumph'd o'er the Flood. 

The Winds fall silent ; and the Waves decrease : 
The Dove brings Qiiiet, and the Olive Peace : 
Yet still His Heart does inward Sorrow feel, 
Which Faith alone forbids Him to reveal. 
If on the backward World his Views are cast ; 
'Tis Death diffus'd, and universal Waste. 
Present (sad Prospe6l !) can He Ought descry, 
But (what aft'efts his melancholy Eye) 
The Beauties of the Antient Fabric lost, 
In Chains of craggy Hill, or Lengths of dreary Coast? 
While to high Heav'n his pious Breathings turn'd. 
Weeping He hop'd, and Sacrificing mourn 'd ; 
When of GOD's Image only Eight He found 
Snatch'd from the Wat'ry Grave, and sav'd from Nations 

drown'd ; 
And of three Sons, the future Hopes of Earth, 
The Seed, whence Empires must receive their Birth, 

326 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

One He foresees excluded Heav'nly Grace, 
And mark'd with Curses, fatal to his Race. 

Abraham, Potent Prince, the Friend of GOD, 
Of Human Ills must bear the destin'd Load ; 
By Blood and Battles must his Pow'r maintain, 
And slay the Monarchs, e'er He rules the Plain ; 
Must deal just Portions of a servile Life 
To a proud handmaid, and a peevish Wife ; 
Must with the Mother leave the weeping Son, 
In Want to wander, and in Wilds to groan ; 
Must take his other Child, his Age's Hope 
To trembling Moriam's melancholy Top, 
Order'd to drench his Knife in filial Blood ; 
Destroy his Heir, or disobey his GOD. 

Moses beheld that GOD ; but how beheld ? 
The Deity in radiant Beams conceal'd, 
And clouded in a deep Abyss of Light ; 
While present, too severe for Human Sight, 
Nor staying longer than one swift-wing'd Night. 
The following Days, and Months, and Years decreed 
To fierce Encounter, and to toilsome Deed. 
His Youth with Wants and Hardships must engage : 
Plots and Rebellions must disturb his Age. 
Some Corah still arose, some Rebel Slave, 
Prompter to sink the State, than He to save : 
And Israel did his Rage so far provoke. 
That what the God-head wrote, the Prophet broke. 
His Voice scarce heard, his Dictates scarce believ'd. 
In Camps, in Arms, in Pilgrimage, He liv'd ; 
And dy'd obedient to severest Law, 
Forbid to tread the promis'd Land, He saw. 

My Father's Life was one long Line of Care, 
A Scene of Danger, and a State of War. 
Alarm'd, expos'd, his Childhood must engage 
The Bear's rough Gripe, and foaming Lion's Rage. 
By various Turns his threaten'd Youth must fear 
Goliah's lifted Sword, and Saul's emitted Spear. 



327 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Forlorn He must, and persecuted fly ; \ 

Climb the steep Mountain, in the Cavern lye ; v 

And often ask, and be refus'd to dye. j 

For ever, from His manly Toils, are known 
The Weight of Pow'r, and Anguish of a Crown. 
What Tongue can speak the restless Monarch's Woes ; 
When GOD, and Nathan were declar'd his Foes ? 
When ev'ry Objedl his Offence revil'd, \ 

The Husband murder'd, and the Wife defil'd, > 

The Parent's Sins impress'd upon the dying Child ? ) 

What Heart can think the Grief which He sustain'd ; 
When the King's Crime brought Vengeance on the Land; 
And the inexorable Prophet's Voice 
Gave Famine, Plague, or War ; and bid him fix his Choice ? 

He dy'd ; and Oh ! may no Refleftion shed 
It's poys'nous Venom on the Royal Dead : 
Yet the unwilling Truth must be express'd ; 
Which long has labor'd in this pensive Breast : 
Dying He added to my Weight of Care : 
He made Me to his Crimes undoubted Heir : 
Left his unfinish'd Murder to his Son, 
And Joab's Blood intail'd on Judah's Crown. 

Young as I was, I hasted to fulfill 
The cruel Didates of My Parent's Will. 
Of his fair Deeds a distant View I took; 
But turn'd the Tube upon his Faults to look ; 
Forgot his Youth, spent in his Country's Cause, 
His Care of Right, his Rev'rence to the Laws : 
But could with Joy his Years of Folly trace. 
Broken and old in Bathsheba's Embrace ; 
Could follow Him, where e'er He stray'd from Good, ) 

And cite his sad Example ; whilst I trod > 

Paths open to Deceit, and track'd with Blood. ) 

Soon docile to the secret A6\s of 111, 
With Smiles I could betray, with Temper kill : 
Soon in a Brother could a Rival view ; 
Watch all his Adls, and all his Ways pursue. 
328 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

In vain for Life He to the Altar fled : 

Ambition and Revenge have certain Speed. 

Ev'n there, My Soul, ev'n there He should have fell ; 

But that my Interest did my Rage conceal. 

Doubling my Crime, I promise, and deceive ; 

Purpose to slay, whilst swearing to forgive. 

Treaties, Perswasions, Sighs, and Tears are vain : 

With a mean Lie curs'd Vengeance I sustain ; 

Joyn Fraud to Force, and Policy to Pow'r ; 

'Till of the destin'd Fugitive secure, 

In solemn State to Parricide I rise ; 

And, as GOD lives, this Day my Brother dies. 

Be Witness to my Tears, Celestial Muse ! 
In vain I would forget, in vain excuse 
Fraternal Blood by my Direftion spilt ; 
In vain on Joab's Head transfer the Guilt : 
The Deed was a6led by the Subje6l's Hand ; 
The Sword was pointed by the King's Command. 
Mine was the Murder : it was Mine alone ; 
Years of Contrition must the Crime attone : 
Nor can my guilty Soul expert Relief, 
But from a long Sincerity of Grief. 

With an imperfeft Hand, and trembling Heart, 
Her Love of Truth superior to her Art, 
Already the reflefting Muse has trac'd 
The mournful Figures of my AcSlion past. 
The pensive Goddess has already taught, 
How vain is Hope, and how vexatious Thought ; 
From growing Childhood to declining Age, 
How tedious ev'ry Step, how gloomy ev'ry Stage. 
This Course of Vanity almost compleat, 
Tir'd in the Field of Life, I hope Retreat 
In the still Shades of Death : for Dread and Pain, 
And Grief will find their Shafts elanc'd in vain. 
And their Points broke, retorted from the Head, 
Safe in the Grave, and free among the Dead, 

Yet tell Me, frighted Reason ! what is Death ? 
Blood only stopp'd, and interrupted Breath ? 



329 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The utmost Limit of a narrow Span, 

And End of Motion which with Life began ? 

As smoke that rises from the kindling Fires 

Is seen this Moment, and the next expires : 

As empty Clouds by rising Winds are tost, 

Their fleeting Forms scarce sooner found than lost : 

So vanishes our State : so pass our Days : 

So Life but opens now, and now decays : 

The Cradle and the Tomb, alas ! so nigh ; 

To live is scarce distinguish'd from to dye. 

Cure of the Miser's Wish, and Coward's Fear, 
Death only shews Us, what We knew was near. 
With Courage therefore view the pointed Hour; 
Dread not Death's Anger; but expeft his Pow'r; 
Nor Nature's Law with fruitless Sorrow mourn ; 
But dye, O Mortal Man ! for Thou wast born. 

Cautious thro' Doubt ; by Want of Courage, Wise, 
To such Advice, the Reas'ner still replies. 

Yet measuring all the long continu'd Space, 
Ev'ry successive Day's repeated Race, 
Since Time first started from his pristin Goal, 
'Till He had reach'd that Hour, wherein my Soul 
Joyn'd to my Body sweli'd the Womb; I was, 
(At least I think so) Nothing: must I pass 
Again to Nothing, when this vital Breath 
Ceasing, consigns Me o'er to Rest, and Death ? 
Must the whole Man, amazing Tliought ! return 
To the cold Marble, or contra6led Urn? 
And never shall those Particles agree. 
That were in Life this Individual He.? 
But sever'd, must They join the general Mass, 
Thro' other Forms, and Shapes ordain'd to pass; 
Nor Thought nor Image kept of what He was? 
Does the great Word that gave him Sense, ordain, 
That Life shall never wake that Sense again ? 
And will no Pow'r his sinking Spirits save 
From the dark Caves of Death, and Chambers of the Grave ? 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Each Evening I behold the setting Sun 
With down-ward Speed into the Ocean run : 
Yet the same Light (pass but some fleeting Hours) 
Exerts his Vigor, and renews his Pow'rs ; 
Starts the bright Race again : His constant Flame 
Rises and sets, returning still the Same. 
I mark the various Fury of the Winds : 
These neither Seasons guide, nor Order binds: 
They now dilate, and now contradt their Force: 
Various their Speed, but endless is their Course. 
From his first Fountain and beginning Ouze, 
Down to the Sea each Brook, and Torrent flows : 
Tho' sundry Drops or leave, or swell the Stream; 
The Whole still runs, with equal Pace, the Same. 
Still other Waves supply the rising Urns; 
And the eternal Floud no Want of Water mourns. 

Why then must Man obey the sad Decree, 
Which subje6ls neither Sun, nor Wind, nor Sea? 

A Flow'r, that does with opening Morn arise. 
And flourishing the Day, at Evening dyes; 
A Winged Eastern Blast, just skimming o'er 
The Ocean's Brow, and sinking on the Shore ; 
A Fire, whose Flames thro' crackling Stubble fly ; 
A Meteor shooting from the Summer Sky; 
A Bowl a-down the bending Mountain roll'd ; 
A Bubble breaking, and a Fable told; 
A Noon-tide Shadow, and a Mid-night Dream ; 
Are Emblems, which with Semblance apt proclaim 
Our Earthly Course : But, O my Soul ! so fast 
Must Life run off; and Death for ever last? 

This dark Opinion, sure, is too confin'd : 
Else whence this Hope, and Terror of the Mind ? 
Does Something still, and Somewhere yet remain. 
Reward or Punishment, Delight or Pain ? 
Say: shall our Relicks second Birth receive? 
Sleep We to wake, and only dye to live ? 
When the sad Wife has clos'd her Husband's Eyes, 
And pierc'd the Echoing Vault with doleful Cries; 



331 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Lyes the pale Corps not yet entirely Dead ? 

The Spirit only from the Body fled, 

The grosser Part of Heat and Motion void, 

To be by Fire, or Worm, or Time destroy'd; 

The Soul, immortal Substance, to remain, 

Conscious of Joy, and capable of Pain ? 

And if Her A6ls have been dire(5led well. 

While with her friendly Clay She deign'd to dwell; 

Shall She with Safety reach her pristine Seat? 

Find her Rest endless, and her Bliss compleat? 

And while the buried Man We idly mourn ; 

Do Angels joy to see His better Half return ? 

But if She has deform'd this Earthly Life 

With murd'rous Rapine, and seditious Strife; 

Amaz'd, repuls'd, and by those Angels driv'n 

From the ^^therial Seat, and blissful Heav'n, 

In everlasting Darkness must She lye. 

Still more unhappy, that She cannot dye ? 

Amid Two Seas on One small Point of Land 
Weary'd, uncertain, and amaz'd We stand : 
On either Side our Thoughts incessant turn : 
Forward We dread ; and looking back We mourn. 
Losing the Present in this dubious Hast; 
And lost Our selves betwixt the Future, and the Past. 

These cruel Doubts contending in my Breast, 
My Reason stagg'ring, and my Hopes oppress'd, 
Once more I said : once more I will enquire, 
What is this little, agile, pervious Fire, 
This flutt'ring Motion, which We call the Mind? 
How does She a6l? and where is She confin'd? 
Have We the Pow'r to guide Her, as We please ? 
Whence then those Evils, that obstrudl our Ease ? 
We Happiness pursue ; We fly from Pain ; 
Yet the Pursuit, and yet the Flight is vain : 
And, while poor Nature labors to be blest. 
By Day with Pleasure, and by Night with Rest; 
Some stronger Pow'r eludes our sickly Will ; 
Dashes our rising Hope with certain 111 ; 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

And makes Us with refleftive Trouble see, 
That all is destin'd, which We fancy free. 

That Pow'r superior then, which rules our Mind, 
Is His Decree by Human Pray'r inclin'd. 
Will He for Sacrifice our Sorrows ease ? 
And can our Tears reverse His firm Decrees? 
Then let Religion aid, where Reason fails: 
Throw loads of Incense in, to turn the Scales; 
And let the silent Sanftuary show, 
What from the babling Scholes We may not know, 
How Man may shun, or bear his destin'd Part of Woe. 

What shall amend, or what absolve our Fate? 
Anxious We hover in a mediate State, 
Betwixt Infinity and Nothing; Bounds, 
Or boundless Terms, whose doubtful Sense confounds 
Unequal Thought ; whilst All We apprehend, \ 

Is, that our Hopes must rise, our Sorrows end ; > 

As our Creator deigns to be our Friend. ) 

I said ; and instant bad the Priests prepare 

The ritual Sacrifice, and solemn Pray'r. 
Seleft from vulgar Herds, with Garlands gay, 
A hundred Bulls ascend the Sacred Way. 
The artful Youth proceed to form the Choir; 
They breath the Flute, or strike the vocal Wire. 
The Maids in comely Order next advance ; 
They beat the Tymbrel, and instru6l the Dance. 
Follows the chosen Tribe from Levi sprung. 
Chanting by just Return the Holy Song. 
Along the Choir in Solemn State they past. 

The Anxious King came last. 

The Sacred Hymn perform'd, my promis'd Vow 
I paid; and bowing at the Altar low. 

Father of Heav'n ! I said, and Judge of Earth ! 
Whose Word call'd out this Universe to Birth; 
By whose kind Pow'r and influencing Care 
The various Creatures move, and live, and are ; 
But, ceasing once that Care ; withdrawn that Pow'r ; 
They move (alas !) and live, and are no more : 

333 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Omni-scient Master, Omni-present King, 
To Thee, to Thee, my last Distress I bring. 

Thou, that can'st Still the Raging of the Seas, 
Chain up the Winds, and bid the Tempests cease; 
Redeem my ship-wreck'd Soul from raging Gusts 
Of cruel Passion, and deceitful Lusts: 
From Storms of Rage, and dang'rous Rocks of Pride, 
Let Thy strong Hand this little Vessel guide 
(It was Thy Hand that made it) thro' the Tide 
Impetuous of this Life : let Thy Command 
Direct my Course, and bring me safe to Land. 

If, while this weary'd Flesh draws fleeting Breath, 
Not satisfy'd with Life, afraid of Death, 
It hap'ly be Thy Will, that I should know 
Glimpse of Delight, or Pause from anxious Woe; 
From Now^ from instant Noiv^ great Sire, dispell 
The Clouds that press my Soul ; from Noiu reveal 
A gracious Beam of Light ; from Nozv inspire 
My Tongue to sing, my Hand to touch the Lyre : 
My open'd Thought to joyous Prospers raise; 
And, for Thy Mercy, let me sing Thy Praise. 
Or, if Thy Will ordains, I still shall wait 
Some New Here-after^ and a future State ; 
Permit me Strength, my Weight of Woe to bear; 
And raise my Mind superior to my Care. 
Let Me, howe'er unable to explain 
The secret Lab'rynths of Thy Ways to Man, 
With humble Zeal confess Thy awful Pow'r; 
Still weeping Hope, and wond'ring still Adore. 
So in my Conquest be Thy Might declar'd : 
And, for Thy Justice, be Thy Name rever'd. 

My Pray'r scarce ended, a stupendous Gloom 
Darkens the Air; loud Thunder shakes the Dome: 
To the beginning Miracle succeed 
An awful Silence, and religious Dread. 
Sudden breaks forth a mure than common Day : 
The sacred Wood, which on the Altar lay, 

334 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Untouch'd, unlighted glows- 



Ambrosial Odor, such as never flows 
From Arab's Gum, or the Sab^an Rose, 
Does round the Air evolving Scents diffuse : 
The holy Ground is wet with Heav'nly Dews : 
Celestial Music (such Jessides' Lyre, 
Such Miriam's Timbrel would in vain require) 
Strikes to my Thought thro' my admiring Ear, 
With Ecstasy too fine, and Pleasure hard to bear. 
And lo ! what sees my ravish'd Eye ? what feels 
My wond'ring Souli* an opening Cloud reveals 
An Heav'nly Form embody 'd and array'd 
With Robes of Light. I heard : the Angel said : 

Cease, Man of Woman born, to hope Relief 
From daily Trouble, and continu'd Grief. 
Thy Hope of Joy deliver to the Wind : 
Suppress thy Passions; and prepare thy Mind. 
Free and familiar with Misfartune grow : 
Be us'd to Sorrow, and inur'd to Woe. 
By weak'ning Toil, and hoary Age o'ercome. 
See thy Decrease ; and hasten to thy Tomb. 
Leave to thy Children Tumult, Strife, and War, 
Portions of Toil, and Legacies of Care. 
Send the Successive Ills thro' Ages down; 
And let each weeping Father tell his Son, 
That deeper struck, and more distinctly griev'd, 
He must augment the Sorrows He receiv'd. 

The Child to whose Success thy Hope is bound, 
E'er thou art scarce Interr'd, or he is Crown'd ; 
To Lust of Arbitrary Sway inclin'd, 
(That cursed Poyson to the Prince's Mind!) 
Shall from thy Dictates and his Duty rove. 
And lose his great Defence, his People's Love. 
Ill Counsell'd, Vanquish'd, Fugitive, Disgrac'd, 
Shall mourn the Fame of Jacob's Strength effac'd. 
Shall sigh, the King diminish'd, and the Crown 
With lessen'd Rays descending to his Son. 



335 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

Shall see the Wreaths, His Grandsire knew to reap 

By aftive Toil, and Military Sweat, 

Pining incline their sickly Leaves, and shed 

Their falling Honors from His giddy Head. 

By Arms, or Pray'r unable to asswage 

Domestic Horror, and intestine Rage, 

Shall from the Viftor, and the Vanquish'd fear. 

From Israel's Arrow, and from Judah's Spear : 

Shall cast his weary'd Limbs on Jordan's Floud, 

By Brother's Arms disturb'd, and stain'd with Kindred-Blood. 

Hence lab'ring Years shall weep their destin'd Race 
Charg'd with ill Omens ; suUy'd with Disgrace. 
Time by Necessity compell'd, shall go 
Thro' Scenes of War, and Epocha's of Woe. 
The Empire lessen'd in a parted Stream, 

Shall lose it's Course 

Indulge thy Tears : the Heathen shall blaspheme : 
Judah shall fall, oppress'd by Grief and Shame ; 
And Men shall from her Ruins know her Fame. 

New i^GYPTS yet, and second Bonds remain, 
A harsher Pharaoh, and a heavyer Chain. 
Again obedient to a dire Command, 
Thy Captive Sons shall leave the promis'd Land. 
Their Name more low, their Servitude more vile. 
Shall, on Euphrates' Bank, renew the Grief of Nile. 

These pointed Spires that wound the ambient Sky 
Inglorious Change ! shall in Destrudlion lye 
Low, levell'd with the Dust ; their Heights unknown, 
Or measur'd by their Ruin. Yonder Throne, 
For lasting Glory built, design'd the Seat 
Of Kings for ever blest, for ever great, 
Remov'd by the Invader's barb'rous Hand, 
Shall grace his Triumph in a foreign Land. 
The Tyrant shall demand yon' sacred Load 
Of Gold and Vessels set a-part to GOD, 
Then by vile Hands to common Use debas'd ; 
Shall send them flowing round his drunken Feast, 
With sacrilegious Taunt, and impious Jest. 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

Twice fourteen Ages shall their Way complete : 
Empires by various Turns shall rise and set ; 
While Thy abandon'd Tribes shall only know 
A difF'rent Master, and a Change of Woe : 
With down-cast Eye-lids, and with Looks a-ghast, 
Shall dread the Future, or bewail the Past. 

Afflifted Israel shall sit weeping down, 
Fast by the Streams, where Babel's Waters run ; 
Their Harps upon the neighb'ring Willows hung, 
Nor joyous Hymn encouraging their Tongue, 
Nor chearful Dance their Feet ; with Toil oppress'd. 
Their weary 'd Limbs aspiring but to Rest. 
In the reflective Stream the sighing Bride, 
Viewing her Charms impair'd, abash'd shall hide 
Her pensive Head ; and in her languid Face \ 

The Bridegroom shall fore-see his sickly Race : > 

While pond'rous Fetters vex their close Embrace. ) 

With irksome Anguish then your Priests shall mourn 
Their long-negle6led Feasts despair'd Return, 
And sad Oblivion of their solemn Days. 
Thenceforth their Voices They shall only raise, 
Louder to weep. By Day your frighted Seers 
Shall call for Fountains to express their Tears ; 
And wish their Eyes were Flouds : by Night from Dreams 
Of opening Gulphs, black Storms, and raging Flames, 
Starting amaz'd, shall to the People show 
Emblems of Heav'nly Wrath, and Mystic Types of Woe. 

The Captives, as their Tyrant shall require. 
That They should breath the Song, and touch the Lyre, 
Shall say : can Jacob's servile Race rejoice, 
Untun'd the Music, and disus'd the Voice ? 
What can We play ? (They shall discourse) how sing 
In foreign Lands, and to a Barb'rous King ? 
We and our Fathers from our Childhood bred 
To watch the cruel Victor's Eye, to dread 
The arbitrary Lash, to bend, to grieve ; 
(Out-cast of Mortal Race !) can We conceive 
Image of ought delightful, soft, or gay ? 
Alas ! when We have toyl'd the longsome Day ; 

P. Y 337 



MATTHEW PRIOR 

The fullest Bliss our Hearts aspire to know, 
Is but some Interval from aftive Woe ; 
In broken Rest, and startling Sleep to mourn ; 
'Till Morn, the Tyrant, and the Scourge return. 
Bred up in Grief, can Pleasure be our Theme ? 
Our endless Anguish does not Nature claim ? 
Reason, and Sorrow are to Us the Same. 
Alas ! with wild Amazement We require. 
If Idle Folly was not Pleasure's Sire : 
Madness, We fancy, gave an Ul-tim'd Birth 
To grinning Laughter, and to frantic Mirth. 

This is the Series of perpetual Woe, 
Which Thou, alas ! and Thine are born to know. 
Illustrious Wretch, repine not, nor reply : 
View not, what Heav'n ordains, with Reason's Eye ; 
Too bright the Obje6l is : the Distance is too high. 
The Man who would resolve the Work of Fate, 
May limit Number, and make Crooked Strait : 
Stop Thy Enquiry then ; and curb Thy Sense ; 
Nor let Dust argue with Omnipotence. 
'Tis GOD who must dispose, and Man sustain, 
Born to endure, forbidden to complain. 
Thy Sum of Life must His Decrees fulfill : 
What derogates from His Command, is 111 ; 
And that alone is Good, which centers in His Will. 

Yet that thy Lab'ring Senses may not droop. 
Lost to Delight, and destitute of Hope ; 
Remark what I, GOD's Messenger, aver 
From Him, who neither can deceive, nor err. 
The Land at length redeem'd, shall cease to mourn ; 
Shall from her sad Captivity return. 
SiON shall raise her long-dejefted Head ; 
And in her Courts the Law again be read. 
Again the glorious Temple shall arise. 
And with new Lustre pierce the neighb'ring Skies. 
The promis'd Seat of Empire shall again 
Cover the Mountain, and command the Plain, 
And from Thy Race distinguish'd, One shall spring. 
Greater in Adt than Viftor, more than King 



POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS 

In Dignity and Pow'r, sent down from Heav'n, 
To succour Earth. To Him, to Him 'tis giv'n, 
Passion, and Care, and Anguish to destroy. 
Thro' Him soft Peace, and Plenitude of Joy 
Perpetual o'er the World redeem'd shall flow. 
No more may Man inquire, nor Angel know. 

Now, Solomon, rememb'ring Who thou art, 
Aft thro' thy remnant Life the decent Part. 
Go forth : Be strong : With Patience, and with Care 
Perform, and Suffer : To Thy self severe. 
Gracious to Others, Thy Desires suppress'd, 
Diffus'd Thy Virtues, First of Men, be Best. 
Thy Sum of Duty let Two Words contain ; 
O may they graven in thy Heart remain ! 
Be Humble, and be Just. The Angel said : 
With upward Speed His agile Wings He spread j 
Whilst on the holy Ground I prostrate lay. 
By various Doubts impell'd, or to obey. 
Or to obje6l : at length (my mournful Look 
Heav'n-ward ere6l) determin'd, thus I spoke : 

Supreme, Allwise, Eternal Potentate ! 
Sole Author, Sole Disposer of our Fate ! 
Enthron'd in Light, and Immortality, 
Whom no Man fully sees, and none can see ! 
Original of Beings ! Pow'r Divine ! 
Since that I Live, and that I Think, is Thine ; 
Benign Creator, let Thy plastic Hand 
Dispose it's own Effect. Let Thy Command 
Restore, Great Father, Thy Instru6led Son ; 
And in My Aft may Thy great Will be done. 



Y2 339 



NOTES 



A = the 'unauthorised' edition of 1707; B = the edition of 1709; C=:the 
'unauthorised' edition of 1716; D = the text of 1718, adopted in the present 
edition; E = the version as it first appeared in Dryden's Miscellanies. 

When necessary, words from the present text are attacked to each variant to 
indicate ivhere the difference begins or ends. Titles of poems and numbers 
of verses are included in numbering the lines. 

p. XXV, 1. 10. D misprints'\ the. 

p. I, 11. 4 — 7. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 3, ' Examen 
Poeticum,' 1693 (second edition, 1706), where it is divided into six stanzas 
only. 1. 5. A and E] A Pindaric Ode. 1. 15. A] Yet much cans't thou 
discern. A and E] and much impart. 1. 18. B and E] art Dust. 1. 19. 
A and E] Wisdom her Oars, and Wit her Sails may lend. 1. 26. A and E] 
Loses itself, and its increasing Way. 

p. 2, 1. 3. A and E] You boast your Doubts resolv'd. 1. 8. A] That 
Nothing, less than Nothing, you. 1. 12. A] delightful. 1. 13. A] of 
his. 1. 16. B and D] Command. 11. 16 — 20. A and E] 

Prepar'd to meet his [E its] High Command [E Commands] ; 

And with diffus'd Obedience, spread 

Their op'ning Banks [E Ranks] o'er Earth's submissive Head; 

And march, thro' diff'rent Paths, to different Lands? 
1. 21. A] shou'd the. 1. 22. A] Journey. 1. 26. A and E] And, filling 
A] her wan'd. 1. 27. E] Power. 1. 29. A and E] Why shou'd. 1. 30. A] 
it's Sphere. 1. 31. A and E] Why shou'd. 11. 33, 34. A and E] To keep 
in Order, and gird-up the Regulated Year ? 

p. 3, 1. II. E] Lines, new Circles. 11. 12 — 17. A and E] 
On t'other's Ruin rears his Throne : 
And shewing his Mistakes, maintains his own. 
Well then ! from this New Toil what Knowledge flows ! 
Just as much, perhaps, as shows, 

That former Searchers were but Bookish-Tools [E Fools]. 
Their Choice Remarks, their Darling-Rules, 
But Canting Error all, and Jargon of the Schools. 
1. 19. A and E] Thro' the Aerial-Seas, and Watry-Skies. 1- 31- A and E] 
And tell us how. 11. 32, 33. A and E] 

Vain Man ! that Pregnant Word sent forth again, 
Thro' either Ocean. 
1. 35. A] And for each Drop call forth a Sea, a Heav'n for ev'ry Star. 



NOTES 

p. 4, 1. 6. B] Sustaining how. 11. 6 — 9. A and E] 
By telling thee, Perfection suffer'd Pain, 
An ETERNAL ESSENCE Dy'd ! 
Death'' s Vanquisher, by Vanquished Death was Slain; 
The Promised Earth Proplian'd with Deicide. 
1. 16. A and E] And to see HEAV'N. 1. 20. A] And Grace's Preference. 

I. 21. A and E] shall know. 11. 25—30. A and E] So lit as Jacob's Ladder 
was, to Scale the distant SKY. 

p. 5, 11. I — 3. Published in E, 1693, where it is called 'To a Lady of 
Quality's Playing...' A] On Celia's Playing upon the Lute. 1. 6. A and E] 
the Subject of our Daring Song. 11. 7 and 8 are omitted in A and E. 

II. 9— II. A and E] 

But when you pleas'd to show the Lab'ring Muse, 
What Greater Themes your Music could produce, 
Our Babling Praises we repeat no more. 
1. 19. A and E] That ^'ou in Beauty and in Birth excel. 

p. 6, 1. 2. A and E] Our Inmost Thoughts and sanctifies. 1. 5. A 
and E] beyond both. 1. 18. A and E] So, whilst. 1- 23. A and E] 
Viewing your. 1. 24. A, B and E] The Reigning. 1. 25. A] Celia's. 

1. 28. A and E] had rais'd. 1. 29. A and E] a fairer Town. 

p. 8, 1. r. Published in E, 1693. A] To His Mistress. 1. 4. A and E] 
In all thy Looks and Gestures .Shine. 1. 6. A and E] To Rule this destin'd 
Heart of Mine. 1. 7. E] what your. 1. 8. E] and you. 1. 10. A and E] 
then rely. 1. 12. A and E] 'Tis but a. 1. 13- A and E] To do. 1. 15. 
A, B and E] and but. 1. 18. A and E] Time equally with Love is. 1. 28. 
A and E] Even Kindness then too. 1. 29. A and E] the Ghost of my 
Departed Love. 

p. 9, 1. 16. A and E] whilst Love invites. 1. 17. A] Obey soft Cupid's 
gentle Voice. E] 01>ey the Godhead's gentle Voice. 1. 21. E] art Kindness 
all. 1. 24. A and E] Your. ..your. ..your. 1. 32. E] And thinking. 1- 35- 
A and E] we'll wake. 

p. 10, 11. I — 5. For the earlier Epistle, see the companion volume to the 
present text. This poem was published in ' Miscellany Poems upon Several 
Occasions : Consisting of Original Poems by The late Duke of Buckinghamf 
Mr Cowl}', Mr Milton, Mr Prior... Vrmied for Peter Buck, at the Sign of the 
Temple, near Temple-Bar, in Fleetstreet, 1692.' Variations in this version are 
lettered F, below. It is also printed in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, 1702 
( = E below), where it is dated Burleigh, Aug. 10, 1690. A] A Second Epistle 
to Sir Fleetwood Shephard. E] A Letter to. 1. 8. A, E and F] Whom 
some call Pope, some Antichrist. 1. 9. F] Spani.sh Monarch sends a. 
1. 18. F] the Sea. 1. 23. A and E] bump one's. 

p. II, 1. 12. A] he shou'd. 1. 28. A] A Beau. 1. 34. A] prompted. 
1. 36. F] Pettys. 

p. 12, 1. 14. F] in the Belly. 1. 22. F] form'd all. 1. 29. A] ty'd 
[possibly correct, though in both authorised editions it is altered to ' try'd ']. 

p. 13, 1. 5. F] a Writer. 1. 8. F] Authors. 1. 13. F] I thought at 
first. 1. 14. F] since that. 11. 19, 20. A and F] 

So when [F where] I've with my Granam gon, 
At Sacred Barne of pure Noncon. 
1. 19 is omitted in P2. 1. 21. A and F] has sifted. 1. 23. F] 
The Rogue has cough'd up to'ther Hour, 
And to apply, etc. 

34-2 



NOTES 

1. 24. A, E and F] Villain Stuff. 11. 25, 26. A, E and F] 

first, I hear [F then, I hear] 

A very good Account of Her. 
11.33-38. A, EandF] 

For if their fame be justly high, who 

Wou'd never treat the Pope's Nuncio. 

That his is higher, we must grant. 

Who will treat Nuncio's Protestant. 

p. 14, 1. 15. A] I rise to read. E and F] I rise to Read, perhaps to 
Breakfast. 1. 26. A] Ceylon. 1. 29. A] Lauzone. F] Better, perhaps, 
than Count Lausune. 

p. 15, 11. II — 13. A, E and F] 

Thus, far from Pleasure, Sir, or Grief, 
I fool away an Idle Life, 
Till Mr. Matdwell cease to Teach, 

Then I'll Jerk [A and E ferk] Youth, and say In speech; 
Or Shadivell from the Town retires. 
1. 15. A and F] Woods. 

p. 16, 11. I — 3. Published in E, 1694 (second edition, 1708), where it is 
entitled ' To my Lady Dursley On her Reading Milton's Paradise Lost.' 
1. 7. E] Small is that part. 1. 9. E] your Race. 1. lo. E] the Features 
took. 1. II. E] Heavn's own Work, in Eve's. 1. 13. E] Whilst scarce 
one actual Guilt. 1. 14. E] your Mind vain Triumphs. 11. 16 — 19. E] 
With equal Virtue had frail Eve been arm'd, 
In vain the Fruit had blush'd, the Serpent charm'd: 
Our Bliss by Penitence had neer been bought ; 
Adam had never fain, or Milton wrote. 

p. 17, 11. I — 4. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, \iqi\\, 
where it is called ' To a Boy Playing with his Cat.' 11. 11 to end. E] 
And potent of his Vows and Joys, 
He thank'd the Gods, and blest his Choice. 
Ah ! Beauteous Boy, take care least thou 
Renew the fondness of his Vow, 
Take care to think the Queen of Love 
Will e're thy Fav'rites Charms improve; 
Shoud'st thou prefer so rash a Pray'r, 
The Queen of Love wou'd never hear. 
Ah ! rather from her Altars run. 
Least thou be griev'd and she undone. 
The Queen of Love will quickly see 
Her own Adonis live in thee; 
And glances thrown upon a Beast, 
Which well might make a Goddess blest. 
Will lightly her first Love deplore. 
Will easily forgive the Boar, 
And on her Tabby Rival's Face, 
Enrag'd will mark her new Disgrace. 

p. 19, 1. I. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4. 
The Despairing Shepherd was reprinted in 1717 in 'A Collection of the 
Best English Poetry, by Several Hands,' in two 8vo. vols. ' Printed and 
Sold by T. Warner, at the Black Boy in Pater-Noster-Row,' the imprint of 

343 



NOTES 

that part of the book in which the poem occurs being ' H. Hills, in Black 
Fryars, near the Water-side, 1709.' 11. 16, 17. Published in Dryden's 
Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 ( = E). 1. 19. E] and sprightly. 

p. 20, 1. 3. E] She too a kind. 1. -21. E] But yet. 11. 22, 23. E] 

Provided you will ne'er again 

Declare your, etc. 
11. 25, 26. Published in E, 1693. A] Heraclitus. E] In a Letter To, etc. 
1. 29. A and E] Fate's Fantastick Mazes. I- 31- A] real Fears. 

p. 21, 1. 1. A and E] we pursue. 11. 4, 5. A and E] And like the 
doating Artist, woo The Image we our selves have wrought. 1. 7. A and E] 
we believe. 1. 8. A] Argue against. E] And argue. 1. 9. A and E] 
Pleased, that we can our selves deceive. 1. 10. A and E] our... our. 1. 18. 
A and E] former fled. 1. 20. A and E] he's dead. I. 24. A and E] But 
all the Pleasure. 1. 25. A and E] Is a-far-off to. 11. 27 — 35. A and E] 

VII. 

The worthless Prey but only shows. 

The Joys [E Joy] consisted in the Strife; 

What-e'er we take, as soon we lose; 

In Homer's Riddle, and in Life. 
VIII, 

So whilst in Feverish Sleeps, we think 

We taste, what waking we desire : 

The Dream is better than the Drink, 

Which only feeds the Sickly-Fire. 
IX. 

To the Mind's Eye, Things will [E well] appear 

At distance, thro' an Artful-Glass; 

Bring but the Flattering-Object [E Objects] near. 

They're all a Senseless-Gloomy-Mass. 

p. 22, 1. 2. A and E] Seeing aright, we. 1. 5. B] And Sorrow from 
our being wise. 1. 9. A and E] but stinking. 11. 11 — 14. A] An Ode 
to the Returning Sun, Intended to be Sung before Their late Majesties, on 
New-Year's-Day 169!, (but here Printed with Alterations; as it was per- 
formed lately at a Consort of Musick, by the most Eminent Masters.) E 1694, 
second edition, 1708] For the New Year: to the Sun. Intended to be Sung... 
1693/4. Written by Mr. Prior at the Hague. 11. 18, 19. A and E] 

And as the Radiant Journey's run. 

Where e'er thy Beams are spread, where e'er thy Power is known, 

Thro' all the distant Nations own. 
1. 21. A] The Mildest Prince. 1. 22. A and E] That ever Sav'd a People, 
ever Grac'd a Throne. 1. 28. A, B and E] Its. 1. 29. A] Marlbro's. 

p. 23, 1. I. A, B and E] Its. 1.2. A] round Anna's. E] Mary's. 1. 3. A] 
From thy blessings she shall know. E] They shall know. 1. 5. A] She 
governs and enlightens. 1. 13- A and E] with all. 1. 18. A and E] 
Yxom. Ancient Times, Historic Stores. 1. 20. A and E] All that with. 
1. 22. A and E] All that with. 11. 23—26. A and E] 

His Great Fore-Fathers Pious Cares; 

All that story have Recorded ; 

Sacred to Marlbro's [E Nassau's] long Renown, 

For Countries Sack'd, and Battels Won. 
1. 31. A] Marlbro's Fame. 

344 



NOTES 

p. 24, 1. 4, A] for Anna's sake. E] for Mary's Sake. 1. 6. A and E] 

with lucky. 1. 8. A and E] have glad. 1. 10. A and E] many Lustres. 

1. 14. A] which Anna should. E] The fuller Bliss which Mary should. 

I. 16. A and E] the Graver. 1. 19. A and E] the Eastern. A, B and E] 

Travel. 11. 22, 23. A and E] 

To ease the Cares, which for Her Subjects sake, 

The Pious Queen does with Glad Practice [E Patience] take. 

Cho. To let her all the Blessings knotu, 

Which from those Cares upon Her Subjects Jloiv. 

1. 28. A] Marlbro's Name. 1. 30. A and E] Take Anna's [E Mary's] 

goodness for their Theme. 1. 32. A] Anna's... Marlbro's. E] Mary's Praise. 

1. 33. A and E] Subjects. 11. 36, 37. A and E] 'Till thou shalt shine no 

more, 

p. 25, 11. I, 2. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 
( = E), where its sub-title is 'in Imitation of a Greek Idyllium.' 11. 9 — 14. E] 

The Prospect and the Nymph were gay, 

With silent Joy I heard her say, 

That we shou'd walk there ev'ry Day. 
1. 15. E] grew. 11. 21, 22. E] she. ..Will press the Shore or see the Main. 
1. 23. E] Look back at least once more, said L 

p. 28, 11. I — 4. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 
( = E). 1. 7. E] Corinna's and so throughout. 1. 18. E] Heart beat. 

I. 21. E] May Cytherea make her Conquest sure. 1. 22. E] And let. 

II. 25— J7. E] ^ 

Yet, if amidst the Series of these Joj's, 
One sad Reflection should by chance arise. 
Give it, in Pity, to the wretched Swain. 
1. 29. E] Felt. 1. 30. E] And dy'd. 

The version of Mrs Singer's Pastoral, given in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, 
differs considerably from the text printed by Prior in 1718 and reprinted here, 
but I have not thought it needful to give a list of these variations. 

p. 29, 11. I — 4. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 
( = E), where it is entitled 'Disputing with a Lady, Who left me in the 
Argument.' 1. 22. E] On Force thus formidably join'd? 

p. 30, verses v. — viii. E] 

But quicker Arts of Death you use. 

Traverse your Ground to gain the Field, 
And, whilst my Argument pursues, 

With sudden Silence bid me yield. 
So when the Parthian turn'd his Steed, 

And from the Hostile Camp withdrew, 
He backward sent the Fatal Reed; 

Secure of Conquest as he flew. 
Daunted, I dropt my useless Arms, 

When you no longer deign'd to Fight, 
Then Triumph deck'd in all its Charms, 

Appear'd less beautiful than Flight. 
Oh ! trace again the Flostile Plains, 

My Troops were wounded in the War, 
But whilst this fiercer Silence reigns 

They suffer, famish'd by Despair. 

345 



NOTES 

Capricious Author of my Smart, 

Let War ensue, or Silence cease, 
Unless you find my Coward Heart 
Is yielding to a separate Peace. 
1. 7. B] the Gift. 1. 11. B] she shuns [probably a misprint in D]. 

p. 31, 1. 9. B] half-clos'd. 11. 20 — 22. Published in Dryden's Miscellany 
Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 ( = E). 

p. 32, 1. 5. B and E] from its. 1. 19. E] Great Minute. 1. 32. B 
and E] some Beauty. 1. 33. B and E] little Lustre. 1. 38. E] And with 
indented Furrows mark his sad extent of Sway. 

p. 33, 1. 10. E] And Custom call you forth to distant Arms. 1. 18. E] 
with Jolly. 1. 23. E] Honour fills. 1. 25. E] find you landed on. B] my 
Lover. 1. 26. B and E] Fill'd with new. 

p. 34, 1. 12. E] from its. 1. 23. B and E] and soon the. 11. 25, 26. E] 
Must Celia be undone for loving you ? 

p. 35. Published separately in 1695, title-page as follows: — 
To the King, an Ode on His Majesty's arrival in Holland, 1695. By 
Mr Prior. Quis desiderio sit piidor ant Modus Tarn Chari capitis? Hor. 
London, Printed iox Jacob Tonson ■iX \.\\t Judge's -Head y\&3.x \.\iq htner-Temple- 
Gate in Fleetstreet. 1695. 

The following are readings from the 1695 text, which consists of 40 verses 
instead of 41 as in the later and considerably altered text. 11. 10 — 23] 

On Mary's Tomb thro rowling Years, 

The Mournful Graces all shall weep; 

And, with fresh Lamps and flowing Tears, 

The Virtues endless Vigils keep. 

For Mary distant Lands shall Mourn 

When late Records Her Deeds relate. 

Ages to come, and Men unborn, 

Shall Bless Her Name, and Sigh Her Fate. 
1. 25] watchful Trust. 1. 28] To Cloath it in its full. 

p. 36, 1. 2] King forsake. 11. 7 — 10] 

The Lovely Dead, whom He regrets, 
Can know no Fear, can feel no Grief; 
The living World, whom He forgets. 
Would perish without His Relief. 
In vain the British Lyons roar. 
While prest by Grief their Monarch stoops; 
The Belgic Darts will wound no more. 
If He, whose Hand sustain'd them, droops. 
1. 15] Europe's. 11. 27 — 35] 

Oh ! give the Mourning Nations Joy, 

Break forth, great Sun with usual Light : 

And let thy stronger Beams destroy 

Those Clouds, which keep Thee from our sight. 

Advance in thy Meridian Course, 

And, since thy Mary's Light is gone, 

Rejoyce the World with double Force, 

Thy Beams all fixt in Thee alone. 



NOTES 

p. 37, 11- 7—10] 

Her fair Delight, Her softer Half, 
Cold in the Grave with Mary lies, 
Unless in Thee her strength is safe, 
The frighted Nation wholly dies. 
1. n] our Land. 11. 14, 15] 

Lest rais'd and rescu'd by thy Hand, 
She bend and sink beneath thy Woe. 

I. 32] is Britain's. 1. 24] where that excess. 1. 28] Thee. ..thy. 1. 32] 
gone.-.chang'd. 

p. 38, 1. 2] Martial Sounds. 1. 13] her Darts. 1. 14] That she could 
strike. 1. 16] But that with which she struck the Queen. 

Between verses xxi. and xxii. the 1695 text has verse xxx. of present text 
and then adds] 

Envy shall calm that useless Rage, 
By which Thy Glory brighter grows, 
And Death, Thy Sorrows to asswage, 
Shall turn her wrath, and wound Thy Foes. 

II. 19, 20] She hated Hope, She scorned Relief, 

And triumph'd, Proud in full Despair. 
11. 22 — 28] Her echo'd Wailings pierc't the Skyes, 

To Earth her bended Forehead bow'd. 
The Tears unbounded from her Eyes, 
As Waters from her Sluices flow'd. 
But soon as Thou her Lord return'd. 
Her Head is rear'd, her Eyes are dry'd. 
She smiles, etc. 
PP- 38, 39, between verses xxv. and xxvi.] 

Dissembling Ease, and forcing Joy, 
She begs her Lord his Tears to dry : 
Did Belgia e're her prayers employ. 
And Orange stand regardless by? 

p* 39, 1. 10] pious Father. 11. 12 — 15] 

A second William's Bloom could tell 
How Heroes rise, how Patriots set : 
As Theirs did Others Deeds excel. 
Excelling Theirs be Thine compleat. 
1. 20] As glorious as thy Mary died. 

PP- 39> 4O) 11- 21 et seqq. For stanza xxx. see note to p. 38 above. Verses 
xxxi. — xxxvii. of the present text take the place of the four following verses in 
1695] 

That Thou canst live for Belgia's sake, 

Pierc'd by her Griefs forget Thy own; 

New Toyls endure, new Conquests make 

To give her Ease, tho Thou hast None. 

To keep from treach'rous Foes Her store, 

Tho all Thy Wealth be robb'd by Death; 

To vanquish, tho She lives no more 

Whose Hands prepar'd the Victor's Wreath. 

Oh, could Thy Griefs obdurate prove 

To Belgia's Cries, to Britain's Fears, 

Yet let them yield to Mary's Love, 

347 



NOTES 

To Nassau's Glory joyn'd in Her's. 

If Mary could so well command, 

It was by long obeying Thee ; 

Her Scepter, guided by Thy Hand, 

Preserv'd the Isles and rul'd the Sea. 
p. 40, 1. 5. B] turn'd aside. 1. 30] To fix His Name amidst the Stars. 
1. 34] Glories. 

p. 41, 11. 7—10] 

And to Thy Fame alone 'tis given 

Unbounded thro all Worlds to go, 

While Mary reigns a Saint in Heaven, 

And Thou a Demi-God below. 
p. 47, 11. 23 et seqq. Published in 1695 under the following title: 'An 
English Ballad : In Answer to Mr. Despreaux's Pindarique Ode On the Taking 
of Namure. Dulce est desipere in loco. London, Printed for Jacob Tonsoit, 
at the Judge'' s Head nts-x the Inner Temple Gate in Fleetstreet.'' The variants 
that follow are, unless otherwise indicated, from the 1695 edition. 

p. 47, 11. 30—33, p. 48, 11. 1—4] 

Was you not drunk, and did not know it, 
When you thought F/iwhus gave you Law? 
Or was it not, good Brother Poet, 
The chaste Nymph iMainfenott you saw? 

She charm'd you sure, or what's the matter. 
That Oaks must come from Thrace to dance? 
If Stocks must needs be taught to flatter 
You'll find enough of them in France. 

p. 48, 11. 12 — 17] 

Des Freaicx, a Vulture only flies 
Where sordid Interest seeks the Prey. 

When once the Poet's Conscience ceases, 
His Measures soon from Truth will rove; 
Give Boilcati but Five Hundred Pieces, 
And Louis takes the Wall oi Jove. 



11. 22 — 26] 



At Trianon the wondrous Plan. 

Such Walls these three wise Gods agreed 
By Human Force could ne'er be shaken ; 
But, Boileau, we who Homer read. 
Find Gods as well as Men mistaken. 

11- 35—^9] 

Yet they march'd but like other Men. 

Cannons above and Mines below 
Did Death and Tombs for Us contrive, 
Yet William order'd matters so. 
That few were there but are alive, 
p. 49, verse v.] 

Why is Namure compar'd to Troyl 
Are we then braver than the Greeks} 
Their Siege did Ten long Years employ, 
We've done our bus'ness in Ten Weeks. 

What Godhead does so fast advance? 
What Power Divine those Hills regain? 



348 



NOTES 

'Tis Btitain's King, the Scourge of France, 
No Godhead, but the first of Men. 

His Arm shall i^eep your Victor under. 
And Eu7-ope's Liberty restore; 
Your Jupiter must quit his Thunder, 
And fright the injur'd World no more. 

I. 3. B] excell. 11. 15 — 22] 

Whilst William trembles at Namure, 
Great Villeroy who ne'er afraid is, 
To Bruxels marches on secure. 
To Bomb the Monks and scare the Ladies. 

Add to this Glorious Expedition 
One more, and then thy Fame is Crown'd, 
Perform thy Mastei-'s high Commission, 
For William ne'er will stand his Ground. 
Verse vii.] He comes, this mighty Marshal comes. 
But finds a River in his way; 
He waves his Colours, beats his Drums, 
Yet thinks it Prudence there to stay. 

Ban and Arriereban, all appear 
Great Armies, would they march but faster; 
But VilProy moves so slowly here, 
One would have thought it was his Master. 

p. 50, 11. 3, 4] 

Disguise a General's Disgrace; 

No Torrents swell this low Mehayne. 

II. 6 — 13] The Water-Nymphs are all unkind. 

We hope the Land-Nymphs are not so : 
Or Fortune sure with Love has join'd 
To fail a General and a Beau. 

I. 10. B] are all. 1. 12. B] These Ebb alas ! fly they? 

II. 17 — 26] Nations combin'd may bless his Name, 

And France in secret own his Glory. 

Yet, Boileau, we'll take t'other Strain 
In Honour of that greater Prince, 
Who lost Na/mtre the same Campaign 
He bought Dixnniyd, and conquer'd Deynse. 
Verse x.] Tis done. Great Louis, Troops advance, 

Mars speaks thro' Cannons Mouths in Fire ; 
That is, one Mareschal of France 
Tells t'other, he dare come no nigher. 

p- 51, n. .3—12] 

For you that saw it best can say 
The Steps by which Namure was lost. 
Think not what Reasons to produce 
From Louis to conceal your Fear; 
He'll own the Strength of your Excuse, 
Tell him that William was but there. 
Verse xii.] But where is now great Louis Feather, 
That wav'd so glorious from afar? 
The Generals could not come together, 
Without the Lustre of that Star. 



349 



NOTES 

Ah, Poet, thou hadst been discreeter, 
Since thou would 'st hang his Hat so high, 
If thou had'st call'd it but a Meteor, 
That blaz'd a while, and then God b'y. 
11. 23—28] 

To animate the doubtful Fight, 
The World in vain expects that Ray ; 
In vain France hopes the Sickly Light 
May equal William's fuller Day. 

Safe Louis shines, knows his own Station, 
He likes not any Foreign Sphere. 
1. 27. B] He likes Versailles, his. 1. i^. B] William left an open way. 
p. 52, 11. 10 — 14; verse xiv. was added later] 

Of Death, Pikes, Rocks, Arms, Bricks, and Fire, 
We'll play three Stanza's, and have done; 
The Castle yields, the French retire. 
So keep your Powder in your Gun. 
Namure by William's Arms is freed. 
1. 19 to end] 

March, Foes of France, march on thro' Flanders, 
Divide to Bruxelles, or to Liege; 
Nor fear the least these fierce Commanders, 
Wlio neither fight, nor raise the Siege. 

Losing Namui-c, Finance gains a Peer; 
Let William's Armies but advance, 
Botiffier's shall lose Dinant next Year, 
And be made Constable of France. 
The following additional French verse is given in the 1695 edition : — 
Pour moy, que Phebus anime 
De ses transports les plus doux, 
Rempli de ce Dieu sublime, 
Je vais, plus hardi que vous, 
Montrer que sur le Parnasse, 
Des bois frequentes d'Horace 
Ma Muse dans son declin, 
S9ait encor les avenues 
Et des sources inconnues 
A L'Auteur du Saint Paulin*. 

* Poem Heroique du sieur F***. 

P- 53> 1- 16. B] bid alternate. 1. 19. B] dread you. 

p. 55, 1. 18. B] mark, and surly Drums. 11. 20, 21 transposed in B, 
which also reads] Behold the Soldier. 1. 21. D] A full-stop replaces a 
comma at the end of the line. 1. 23. B] your pristin. 

p. 56, 1. 5. B] But drop the Head, and hang the Wing. 11. 20 — 23] not 
in B. 1. 26. B] Mistress to the Painter sat. 

p. 57, 1. 18. B] O Howard. 1. 24. B] unhappy Youth. 1. 27. B] to 
evince. 

P- 59) 1- 27. B] Banks. 

p. 62, 1. 2. B] keener Darts. 1. 18. B] Aimed at his. 1. 19. B] 
With certain Speed the Arrow. 



NOTES 

p. 64. The Dove, A Poem, was published in 171 7, ' London: Printed for 
J. Roberts, near the Oxford-Arms in Wanvick-Lane.'' The following are 
variations noted in a copy of the 171 7 issue. 1. 7] dares. 1. 29] Subaltern 
Loves. 

p. 68, 1. 12] But O, I. 20] I'm sure I touch the. 
p. 69, 1. 7. D] Lethe'. 
p. 76, 1. 21. D] XIL 

p. 78. Pallas and Venus. Published in 1706, 'London: Printed {ox John 
Nuttnez.x Stationers-Hall [Price id.).' The following are variations noted in 
a copy of the 1706 issue. 11. 23 — 26] 

From Head to Foot she view'd, etc. 
And tauntingly the wanton Goddess said; 
Alas, since naked I cou'd vanquish Thee, 
How more successful Pallas, shall I be. 
1. 27] When to. ..I come. 1. 29] with a Smile. 1. 33] To be more Strong 
abandon ev'ry Dress. 

p. 79, 11. I — 4. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 
( = E). Sub-title in A] A Poesy for a Wedding-Ring. 1. 7. A, B and E] 
Chloe or Cloe, and so throughout. 1. 14. A] Th' uneasie. 1. 21. A] 
hated Head. 

p. 80, 1. 4. A] since were. 1. 7. A] shall find. 11. 12 — 17. A and E] 

Can suffer Shipwreck [E Racks and], run thro' Flame, 

Still contented, still the same. 

Then trace me some unheard-of Way, 

How I thy constant Ardour might repay; 

[E Thy constant Ardour to repay] 

For I my Sense of it wou'd shew, 

In something more than Woman e'er cou'd do. 

[E In more, etc.] 
1. 30. A and E] Happy these. 1. 31. A and E] But Oh ! how soon. 1. 37. 
A and E] As soon as ever he. 1. 39. A] all the while. 

p. 81, 1. 4. A and E] 

Our Sex will be inur'd to Lye, 

And their's instructed to Reply. 
1. 10. A] The. 1. 12. A] The forward Dame, when fair and young. 
1. 19. A] And acted Vigorous and. 1. 31. A] less Owners. 

p. 82, 1. I. A and B] who does. A] does the Fair One. 1. 9. A and B] 
has that. 1. 14. A] She wishes, she. 1. 19. A] Darling see. II. 31 — 
34. A] 

I lock her fast, I keep the key; 

The key-hole, — Fool ! That take away. 
1. 35. A] what may. 

p. 83, 1. 4. A] A Steeple. 1. 5. A] False Fears. 1. 14. A] those 
monstrous ills. 1. 15. A] She should. 1. 23. A] Then clap. 1. 24. 
Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 ( = E). A, B and E] 
Monsieur De La Fontaine's Hans Carvel Imitated. 

p. 84, 1. 3. A and E] To spill a hated Rival's. 1. 9. A] first in. 
1. 12. A] Slipt often out to Mistress Hoddy's. 1. 14. A and E] What else 
o' [E in] God's Name could she mean? 1. 31. A, B and E] Wives... 
Husbands. 1. 32. A] rowl in. 1. 33. A] durst not. 1. 35. A] to's Wife. 



NOTES 

p. 85, 11. 3, 4. E] Cares... Pray 'rs. 1. 6. A] While Taylor, Scot and. 
1. 7. A] us to. 1. 8. A, B and E] Lay unmolested. 1. 11. A] The Trade 
continued still the same. 

p. 86, 1. 10. A] down some. 1. 17. A] about a. 1. 21. A] Nice 
Ratafia for. E] Modish Ratafia for. 1. •24. A] Dame went. 1. 33. E] 
view the. 

p. 87, 1. I. A] But .such. 1. 9. A] says. 1. 17. A] beyond the. 

P- 9°» '• 35- ^] all which. 

p. 91, 1. II. B] Those beat. 

p. 92, 1. 4. B] Up from her Ladyship to. 

p. 93, 11. I, -2. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 
( = E). Sub-title in A] Li Imitation of Mons. De la Fontaine's Hans Carvel. 
1. 10. A and E] from pleasure as from. 1. 13. A] or rise. 1. t6. A and E] 
dangerous and. 

p. 94, 1. 13. E] no Medium. 1. 14. A full-stop has been supplied at 
the end of the line. 1. 28. A and E] might please. 

P- 95) !• 3- A and E] For Hills before and Woods behind. 1. 4. A] 
Kept off the Rain, and broke the Wind. 1. 5. A and E] Fat Oxen. 
1. II. A] live so. 1. 17. A] Sometimes, My Rogue! sometimes, My 
Darling! 1. 22. A] The Farmer. 

p. 96, 1. 5. A and E] Wou'd gloriously in verse appear. 1. 7. A] 
'Twou'd grieve me should I have. 1. 9. A and E] my Epic very. 1. 32. A] 
Is all. 1. 36. A] arse. 

p. 97, 1. 14. A and E] Some Parts. 1. 19. A and E] dare. E] the gotten. 

p. 99, 11. 8, 9. B] Reading Mezeray's. 

p. 100, 1. 8. B] the Book called. 

pp. 100, loi. ' Adriani Morientis, etc., Imitated' was published in Dryden's 
Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 1703/4 ( = E below). 1. 4. E] thy doubtful, 

1. 7. E] Lyes interrupted and forgot. 

p. 102, 11. I — 5. Published in E, 1693, where Dr Sherlock is described as 
' Dean of St Paul's.' 1. 12. E] her Numbers to that blest. 1. 16. B and E] 
Who, likc.wert sent. 1. 17. E] To be the Voice, and bid. I. 24. E] 
Philip's Son, shall sit and view. 1. 25. E] This sordid. 

p. 103, 1. I. E] to that height. 1. 6. B and E] beyond the. 1. 12. E] 
various Deaths. I. 13. E] kind Works. 1. 30. B and E] dreaded. 
1. 33. E] their hidden way. 1. 37. E] and Worlds. 1. 38. B] those 
that. 

p. 104. Carmen Scculare was published in 1700, 'London, Printed for 

lacob Tonson, at Gmys-Iiin-Gate in Grays-Inn-Lane.' The following variants 

are from a copy of the 1700 issue, save where otherwise noted. 1. 12] Call 

out the, 1. 20] comely order march each. 11. 21, 22] 

Mark ev'ry Act with its intrinsic Worth : 

Then hast the Mighty Parallels to bring. 

p. 105, 1. 2, omit\ Thy Native. 1. 6] Turn hither the fair. 1. 8] of the. 
1. 10] let fair Proof my bold Affection grace. 1. 12] If Mars son reduc'd. 
1. 14, omit\ But yet. 1. 16] Strict Religion Numa knew. 11. 20, 21] 
Sealing his Justice with his Childrens Blood 
Stern Brutus was with too much Horror good. 



NOTES 

1. 26J How dang'rous Lusts must be. 1. 28] But scarce. 1. 33] Too many 
Patriots. 1. 34] And the'. 1. 37] Let their Deserts with mighty Praise be 
drest. B] With equal. 

p. 106, 1. i] rowling like. 1. 2] Its rapid Force design'd their. 1. 5. B] 
So with. 1. 6] Some small allaying Tincture. 1. 20] And in fierce Battels 
Bloody Laurels won. 1. 23] Illustrious Heroes. 1. 31] Afflicted Britain. 
'• 35] The fruitful... Great Nassaw's Race. 

p. 107, 1. i] Next see. 1. 5] Then call the. 1. 23] forth altered to fresh. 
1. 27] blooming Life. 11. 28 — 30] 

His Infant Patience calming Factious Strife, 
Quelling the Snakes that round his Cradle ran, 
For William thus, Alcides thus began. 
1. 34] Vanquish'd, not. 1. 36. 1700 and B] Maria. 

p. 108, I. 10] And happy Pow'r. 1. 16] By Moderation greater than. 
1. 18] His Life enforcing what. 1. 22] By equal Virtues all the Piece is. 
1. 36] To future. 1. 37] Bid Her. 1. 38] Trace every Toil and mention 
{i.e. omit To). 

p. 109, I. 2] In shining Characters. 11. 3 — 27] 

Fair to be read, when all that we can give 

To make our Master's Glory live, 

Does of its self insensibly decay, 

When Time the Marble and the Brass devours, 

And envious Winters in sure Ruin lay 

The Pride of Namur's Towers. 

Namur's Towers which War had arm'd, 

Against what human Force cou'd do. 

By William's Valour were alarm'd. 

Were subdu'd by William's Blow : 

William mounted Nainurs Towers, 

Second him Jove, and Pallas, Mighty Powers ; 

He flew like Perseus thro' the Air, 

The utmost dreadful height to gain. 

William and the God of War 

Can only Toils like these sustain; 

Rocks, Rivers, Mountains, Armies, Fire, 

To stop his Glorious Course conspire : 

Why will they conspire in vain? 

What can William's Force restrain? 
1. 31] France dismay'd. 1. 32] William from... survey 'd. I. 33] He order'd 
War and Rage to cease. 

p. 110, 1. 3] how Grace made Clemency. 1. 4] And how. 1. 6] 
Confessing him less Great than Good. 1. 7] fair Glory. 1. 10] Virtue 
proclaim'd...and Fame the Best of Kings. 1. 12, add'\ Whither is wild Fancy 
brought? Whither, etc. 1. 26] pursues her Godhke King. 1. 33] his 
adventrous. 

p. Ill, 11. 2 — 4] Anon in Irish Camps she finds her Theme. 11. 11 — 24] 

She thence to Albion does the Victor bring, 

Albion with lo's greets her happy King; 

But he declines the Altars she wou'd raise, 

Accepts the Zeal, tho' he rejects the Praise. 

Again she follows him thro' Belgians Land, 

And Nations often sav'd by William's hand, 

P. z 353 



NOTES 

Ranges Confederate Armies on the Plains, 
And in pitch'd Battles bleeding Conquest gains ; 
Thence to the Points of armed Rocks aspires, 
O'er hollow Mountains bellowing hidden Fires, 
Beholds the Rocks submit, the Mountains bow, 
And willing Nations Crown the Common Victor's Brow. 
1. 34. 1700 and B] Eastward, to Danube. 

p. 112, I. 4] To Him. 1. 6] Him all Religions, Him all Nations trust. 

I. 16. 1700 and B] his violent. 1. 17] meets its. 11. 19 — 21] 

Serene, yet Strong, exempt from all Extreams, 
And with fair Speed devolving fmitful vStreams. 

II. 24-27] 

Round either Bank the Vales their Sweets disclose, 
Fresh Flowers for ever rise, and fruitful Harvest grows. 
Whither wou'd the Goddess go. 
1. 31] Her daring. 1. 35, 0}?iit'\ Yet. 
p. 113, 1. 3] in ample. 11. 10, 11] 

Too bold the Strong, the Hero was too Great; 
She chuses rather thus to die. 
1. 18. B] his bolted. 1700 and B] Temples. 1. 32] Rampart. 1. 34] 
The Oaken. 11. 35—38] 

Can to Victorious William's Name 

Augmented Honours give: 
His is an ample Plenitude of Fame, 
Incapable Addition to receive, 
p. 114, 1. I. B and 1700] Mystic Gate. 1. 10] Command the laughing 
Hours. 1. 12] Distribute Years. 1. 13] And Times from better. 1. 17] 
From other. 1. 19] Of which no portion she shall bear. 1. 22] with ripen'd. 
1. 26. B and 1700] And let Eternal Sweets. 

In the 1700 version, verses xxvii.- — xxxii. of the present text follow, with 
many variations, verse xxxv. 

pp. 114, 115, verses xxvii. to 1. 4, inclusive, of verse xxx.] 
From the wild Ruins of the Ancient Court, 
Let a new Phoenix her young Columns rear, 
As may the Greatness of this Reign support. 

An Object worthy William's Care; 
Open, yet Solid, as the Builder's Mind, 
Be her spacious Rooms design'd ; 
Let every Sacred Pillar bear 
Trophies of Arms, and Monuments of War: 
Then shall the King in Parian Marble Breath, 
His Shoulder bleeding fresh, and at His Feet 
Disarm'd and Stopt shall lie the threatn'd Death, 
(For so was saving Jove^s Decree compleat) 
His Genius plac'd behind defends the Blow; 
Disembled Waters from the Basis flow, 
And Boyn^s Triumphant Flood is known, 
For ever in the Wounded Stone. 
Before the Palace, Thaiiws shall softly glide. 
With dear Affection forming long delay, 
Unwilling to be forc'd away, 
Tho' all the Sister- Rivers chide, 
Fond of Her Lord, forgetful of Her Tide. 

354 



NOTES 

And thou Imperious Windsor stand enlarg'd, 
With all the Stores of Britain'' s Honour charg'd: 
Thou the fair Heaven that dost the Stars enclose, 
Which William's Bosom wears, His Hand bestows, 
To the Great Champions that support His Throne, 

And Virtues nearest to His own ; 
Round Ormond's Knee, thou tyest the Mystic String 
That makes the Knight Companion to the King ; 
Returning Glorious from the Foreign Field, 
In Thee he pays his Vows, and hangs his Shield. 
Thou smiling see'st Great Dorset's Worth confest ; ) 

Transcendent Goodness in just Honours drest, I 

The Ray distinguishing the Patriot's Breast. j 

p. 115, 1. 16. B and 1700] To the... that support. 

p. 116, verses xxxi., xxxii.] 

In Thee Great Cavendish Name shall long be known. 
The Father's Light transmitted to the Son. 
In Thee the Sey»nnirs, and the Talbois Line, 
With high Preheminence shall ever shine. 
And if a God these lucky Numbers guide, 
If sure Apollo o'er the Song preside, 
Jersey, Belov'd by All as well as Me 
Shall at thy Altars bow, shall own to Thee 
The fairest Mark of Favour and of Fame, 
Familiar to the Villiers Name. 
Verses xxxiii. — xxxv. follow xxvi. in the edition of 1700. 1. 26] By hardy 
Feats. 1. 27] To stimulate Desert with Thirst. 1. 36] Give all the... and 
midst the. 1. 37] Draw the sure Sword {omit To). 

p. 117, 11. 2, 3] 

To plant Societies for peaceful Arts, 
Increase our Learning and unite our Hearts. 
1. 10. 1700 and B] That distant Realms may from our Authors know. I. 17] 
guard Great Agamemnon's. 1. 24] The mutual Obligation hide. 1. 28. 
1700 and B] The Song with Him. 1. 32] shall ever chase the. 

p. 118, 1. 10] and William's Fleets. 11. 30, 31] 
His own Stupendious Victories restrain'd. 
And o'er the Righted World Eternal Triumph gain'd. 

p. 119, 1. 3] a perfect. 1. 7] calls our. 1. 19] And Man, that knows 
his Course, adores his Light. 1. 23] That {omit Above) Sun shou'd cease his 
Destin'd Way to go. 1. 24] to Govern all below. 1. 26] were born. The 
1700 version, from this line, concludes as follows : 

Her absent Lord Britannia once must mourn, 

And of the Demi- God the Earthly-half must die: 

Yet if our Incense can excite your Care, 

If Heavenly Wills relent to Human Pray'r, 

Exert Great God thy Interest in the Sky, 

Gain ev'ry Tutelary Deity; 

That Conquer'd by the Public Vow, 

They keep the dismal Mischief long away. 

And far as lengthn'd Nature may allow. 

Reject with happy Power the threatn'd Day. 

z2 355 



NOTES 

Into the Ocean for his Life design'd, 

Throw, bounteous Heav'n, innumerable Hours, 

And that stern Fate its strict Account may find, 

Make up that loss by taking them from Ours. 

Deep in this Age let Him extend His Sway, 

And our late Sons with chearful Awe obey. 

On His sure Virtue long let Earth rely, ] 

And late let the Imperial Eagle fly, >• 

To bear the Hero through His Father's .Sky. J 

To Great /Eneas, to Thcmistocles, 

To Pollux, Theseus, Hercules, 

And all the Radiant Names above, 

Rever'd by Men and Dear to Jove ; 

Late let the New-born Nassaw-Star 

With dawning Majesty appear, 

To Triumph over vanquish'd Night, 

And Guide the British Mariner, 
With everlasting Beams of Friendly Light. 
1. 34. B and 1700] long away. 1. 35. B and 1700] far as. 

p. 121, 1. 5. The date does not appear in B. 1. 29. B] directs the. 

p. 124. Published in 1704. 'London: Printed for Jacob Tonson.' The 
1 704 version is identical with the version in the ' unauthorised ' edition of 
Prior's poems, 1707, save that on p. 124, 1. 31, of the present edition it agrees 
with the later reading ' a Woman,' and in (11. 8, 9, p. 125 of) the 1707 version 
quoted below it reads ' execute ' for ' exercise ' and ' meantime ' for ' mean- 
while.' 1. I. A] A Prologue. 1. 9. A] kind Star, whose Tutelary. 
1. 10. A] Guided the future Monarch's. 1. 12. A] Only less bless'd than 
Cynthia. 1. 17. A] For what can Virtue more to man express. 1. 19. A] 
What further thought of Blessing can we frame. 1. 20. A] Than that, that 
Virtue should be still. 1. 31. A] a Female. 

p. 125, 1. I. A] Gives Glorious. 11. 7 — 10. A] 

Told him how Barb'rous Rage should be restrain'd. 

And bid him exercise what she ordain'd. 

Meanwhile, the Deity in Temples sat, 

Fond of her native Grecian's future Fate. 
1. 13. A] Thus whilst the Goddess did her Pow'r dispose. 1. 15. A] and 
Athens rose. II. 16 et seqq. This 'Letter ' was published in 1704. 'London. 
Printed {ox Jacob Tonson, within Grays-Init-Gate n&\i Grays- Inn Lane.'' The 
variants of the 1704 are those given below save where otherwise stated. 
1. 19. B omits\ Despreaux. 1. 29] thy servant. 1. 30] a happy. 

p. 126, 1. 8] Must certainly be Fortune's lasting Fault. 1. 11] And 

darted Rays. 1. 12] Some erring Deities disturb'd the. 1. 13] And Fate. 

1. 25] Louis or. 11. 30 — 34] 

Hamilton, Luuiley, Palmes, or Ingoldsby, 

May tolerably well with Verse agree. 

And Marlbro, Poet, Marlbro has a Name | 

Which thou and all thy Breth'ren may proclaim, > 

Elected to immortal Lays, and sure of endless Fame. j 

p. 127, 1. 2] And generous Sylvius stand. 11. 3 — 6] 

And Churchil if that rough Sound offend the Strain 
Be true to Glorious Worth, and sing the Dane. 



NOTES 

1. 23— p. 128, 1. 9] 

Ave Apollo ! — Sir — one Moment's Ease. 
Tell me, is this to reckon or rehearse? 
A Commissary's List or Poet's Verse? 
Why Faith Depreaux there's Sense in what you say, 
I told you where my Difficulty lay; 
He that can make the rough Recital chime, 
Or bring the Sum of Lewis' Loss to Rhime, 
May make Arithmetic and Epic meet, 
And Newton's Books in Dryden's Stile repeat. 
O Boileau, had it been Apollo's Will 
That I had shar'd a Portion of thy Skill, 
Had this poor Breast receiv'd the Heav'nly Beam, 
And were my Numbers equal to my Theam, 
To noblest Strains I'd raise my serious Voice, 
And calling ev'ry Muse to bless my Choice, 
Arms and a Queen I'd sing; who Great and Good. 
1. 32. B] Louis' Loss. 

p. 128, 1. 13] To vindicate a sinking Empire's Cause. 1. 15] I'd place 
the Queen in. 1. 18] These prompt to fix Her Joys, those to. 1. 20] And 
as Her Looks may dissipate their. 11. 21, 22] With active Dance shou'd 
please Her Eye, with Vocal Shells her Ear (one line). 1. 27] With Pious 

Speech the River shou'd. 1. 28] blesses Anna's careful. 

p. 129, 1. 2] Nor names Her Bounty, nor proclaims his Worth. 1. 18] 
Counted by Men below, and bless'd by Gods above. 1. 26] 'Tis Anna's 
Glory, and Thou shalt be Great. 1. 29] I'll visit Thee again. 11. 30, 31] 
And sit propitious on Thy Helm in Blenheim's glorious Plain {one line). 

I. 34] Commission thro' the land is known. 1. 35] thronging Countries. 

p. 130, 1. i] her Coast. 11. 2 — 8] 

And almost ceases to weep William lost. 
Since that Great He7-cnles resign'd to Fate, 
The Atlas This, who must support her State. 

II. 10 — 12] He sees half Germany combin'd with France; 

Combin'd in vain— He draws the fatal Sword, 
The Troops obedient \n2.\\. the Master Word. 
1. II. B] English General. 1. 13] charging Gen'ral. 1. 16] threat'ning 
Armies. 11. 22 — 25] 

The Roman Eagle on the Danube Shears 
Hears how the British Lion Victor roars, 
She claps her joyful Wings, and high to Julian Glory soars. 
1. 28. B] British Muse. 1. 31] But, Goddess, change. 1. 38] As we have 
Victors. 1. 39 omitted. 

p. 131, 11. 7—11] 

Our Muses as our Armies can agree. 
To humble Lewis, and reply to Thee. 
Nor shall we want just Subject for our Strains, 
Whilst Marlbro's Arm eternal Lawrel gains. 
And in the Land where Spencer sung, a new Elisa reigns. 
1. 15. B] The Queen's Effigies on a. 

p. 132, 1. 13. B] (G — d knows) is fit. 

p. 133, 1. 12. B] writ on. 

357 



NOTES 



p. 134, 


1. 29. 


A] in this. 1. 31- A] turns. 


p. 139, 


1. 22. 


B] Had brought. 1. 27. B] softly past. 


p. 140, 


1. 17. 


B] Deed. 


p. 144, 


1. II. 


B] Spirit which does closest. 


p. 146, 


1- 5- 


B] Behold me fix'd. 1. 27. B] Censure. 


p- 147, 


1. 9. 


B] Cheek. 


p. 148, 


1- 3- 


B] Will... Will. 


p- 151, 


1. 19. 


B] and my Hands shall tear. 


p. 152, 


1- 33- 


B] all the. 


p- 154, 


1. 6. 


B] An useless. 1. 37. B] A pious. 


p- 155, 


1. 31. 


B] Herds. 


p- 156, 


1- 33- 


B] Treasures. 


P- i57> 


11. 5, 


6. B] Pow'r...Hour. 



p. 159. Published in 1706. 'London: Printed {ox Jacob Tonson,\\\i\ivi\ 
Grays- Inn- Gate next Grays-Inn Lane.' The following variations are from 
the 1706 version, save where otherwise noted. 1. 6] Late Glorious. 

p. 160, 1. 9. 1706 and B] writ in. 1. 13. 1706 and B] and add variously. 
1. 13] as my Subject and Imagination. I. 14] the matter of Style. 1. 19. 
1706 and B] Numbers. 1. 19] only chang'd one Verse in his. 1. 20, otnit^ 
which... Harmonious. 11. 20, 21] and avoided his Obsolete Words. 1. 30. 
1706 and B] Ode L 

p. 161, 1. 6. 1706 and B ot?nf\ if not. I. 7. 1706 and B] Monmouth 
and the. 11. 7, 8] yet Our Great Cambden does not reject it, and Milton tells it. 

I. 10. B and 1700] It carries, however. 1. 13. B] writ. 1. 13] Virgil writ 
one of the best Poems. 1. 14] Elizabeth one of the greatest Compliments. 

II. 15 — 20 inclusive are not in 1706. 1. 21] Spencer, do I think, in. 1. 29] 
So leaving our. 1- 31- 1706 and B] to add, as to my own part. 1. 32, 
omit] at least. 1. 34] self obliged. After 1. 35 B adds] AWy ift/ie Reader 
7vill be good enough to Pai'don me this Excursion , I declare I will not trouble 
him again in this kind, 'till my Lord Duke of Marlborough gains another 
Victory, greater than those <?/ Blenheim and Ramillies. The 1706 version ends 
as follows : 

And hereupon I declare, that if the Reader will be good enough to Pardon 
me this Excursion, I will neither trouble him with Poem or Preface any more, 
'till my Lord Duke of Marlborough gets another Victory greater than those of 
Blenheim and Ramillies. 

p. 162, 1. 7. 1706] Troops to. B] his Legions forth to. 

p. 163, 1. 3] and Victories rehearse. 1. 4] By story yet untold, unparal- 

lell'd by Verse. 1. 13] would raise. 1. 18] Nor seeking Battel, nor intent 
on Harms. Verse vi.] 

In Council Calm and in Discourse Sedate, 
Under his Vineyard in his Native Land, 
Quiet and safe thus Victor MarWrotigh sate, 
Till Anna gives Her Thunder to his Hand; 



NOTES 

Then leaving soft Repose and gentle Ease 
With swift Impatience seeks the distant Foe ; 
Flying o'er Hills and Vales, o'er Rocks and Seas, 
He meditates, and strikes the wond'rous Blow; 
Quicker than Thought he takes his destin'd Aim, 
And Expectation flies on slower Wings than Fame. 

p. 164, 11. 1, 3] 

Untam'd Bavar, when on Ramillia's Plain 
Afar he did the British Chief behold. 

I. 25] tempt thy Rival. 1. 28] That Laurel Grove, that Harvest of. 

II. 32, 33] 

Must shed, I ween, its Honours from thy Brow 
And on another Head another Spring must know. 
1. 38] In thy ill Conduct seek thy ill Success. 

p. 165, 11. 5, 6] 

Jove's Handmaid Pow'r must Jove's Behests pursue, 
And where the Cause is Just, the Warrior shall subdue. 
1. 9] sprung from. 11. 11 — 17 and verse xii.] 

With an Intrepid Hand and Courage draws 

That Sword, Immortal William at his Death 

(Who could a fairer Legacy bestow?) 

Did to the Part'ner of his Arms bequeath: 

That Sword well Louis and his Captains know; 

For they have seen it drawn from William's Thigh, 

Full oft as he came forth, to Conquer, or to Die. 

But brandish'd high, and waving in the Air, 

Behold unhappy Prince, the Master Sword, 

Which perjur'd Gallia shall for ever fear : 

'Tis that which Caesar gave the British Lord. 

He took the Gift; Nor ever will I sheath, 

He said, (so Anna'i, high Behests Ordain) 

This Glorious Gift, unless by Glorious Death 

Absolv'd, 'till I by Conquest fix your Reign. 

Returns like these Our Mistress bids us make, 

When from a Foreign Prince a Gift Her Britons take. 
1. 36] The Two great adverse Chiefs unmov'd abide. 

p. 166, 1. 2] The Shock sustain'd, the Friendly Pair. 1. 6] Fix'd on 
Revenge. 1. 11] their Deeds. 1. 13] But oh! while mad with Rage 

Bellona. 11. 15 — 22] 

While with large Steps to Conquest Britain goes, 

What Horror damps the Strong and quells the Great? 

Why do those Warriors look dismay'd and pale. 

That ever Dreadful, never knew to Dread? 

Why does the charging Foe almost prevail. 

And the Pursuers only not recede? 

Their Rage, alas ! submitting to their Grief, 

Behold they weep, and croud around their falling Chief. 
1. 26] that Thunderbolt. 1. 27] I saw their Marib'rough stretch'd along the. 
1. 28] Vain Hope. ..for Marib'rough mounts. 1. 35] And lo ! the dubious 
Battel. 1. 38] And Liberty must live and Gallia yield. 

359 



NOTES 

p. 167, 11. 5, 6] 

The Foe retires, the Victor urges on, 
And Blenheim's Fame again is in Ramillia known. 
1. 13] We wish'd Thou wou'dst no more those. 1. 14] Gallia's. 1. 19] of 
Rest. 1. 26] To lift Great Anna's Glory further on. 1. 28] Nothing was 
done, He thought, while. 

p. 168, 1. 3] as he sees the Eagle cut. 1. 4] and fearful. 1. 6] Why 
then did. 1. 7] To dare the British Foe. 1. 25] his azure. 

p. i6g, 1. 13] Still breaking... still. 1. 14] usual Bane. 1. 24. 1706 

and B] And to... they must. 

p. 170, 1. 11] and spend. 1. 19] Intomb'd I'll Slumber, or Enthron'd 
I'll Reign. 1. 28] from the Rival. 

p. 171, 1. 8] There Brabant clad. 1. 9] In decent. 1. 11] Laying her. 
I. 12] Flanders. 1. 16] Her Sister Provinces from her shall. 1. 22] with 
Marks. 1. 24] Types of. 1. 31. 1706 and B] should see. 1. 33] sweet 
pow'r. 11. 36 — 39] 

And Ireland's Harp, her Emblem of Command, 

And Instrument of Joy, should there be seen. 

And Gallia's wither'd Lillies pale, and torn. 

Should, here and there dispers'd, the lasting Work adorn. 
1. 37. B] should there. 

p. 172, 1. 9] will, appointed Marlb 'rough's hand. B] Thy Marlbro's 
Hand. 1. 10] To end those Wars, and make that. 1. 11. 1706 and B] to 
Everlasting Peace. 

p. 185, 11. 23, 24. Published in folio 2 pp., undated, 'Printed for Bernard 
Lintott, at the Cross- Keys, between the two Temple- Gates in Fleet-street. 
(Price one Penny.)' C] 'To the Right Honourable Robert Harley, Esq.' 

p. 188. Erie Robert's Mice, etc. Published in 1712 in 'Two Imitations 

of Chaucer, viz. I. Susannah and the Two Elders. II. Earl Robert's Mice. 

By Matthew Prior, Esq.' There are two versions of Susannah and the Two 

Elders given in this issue, the second one being a rendering ' attempted in a 

Modern Stile,' as follows : 

When Fair Susannah in a cool retreat 
Of shady Arbours shun'd the Sultry heat. 
Two wanton Lechers, seiz'd the trembling Dame. 
What Female Strength could do, her Arms perform. 
And guarded well the Fort they strove to Storm. 
The Story's ancient, and if rightly told. 
Young was the Lady, but the Lovers Old. 
Had the Reverse been true, had Authors Sung, 
How that the Dame was OU, the Lovers Young, 
If She had then the blooming Pair deny'd. 
With tempting Youth and \'igour on their side. 
Lord! How the Story would have shock'd my Crerd I 
For that had been a Miracle indeed. 
A copy of a 17 12 version is catalogued in the Locker-Lampson Collection. 

' By M w P r, E.sq; London. Printed for A. Baldwin, near the Oxford 

Arms in Warwick-Lane. Price Three pence. Folio.' 

The two imitations of Chaucer were reprinted in ' A Collection of Original 

Poems, Translations, and Imitations, By M^ Prior, M'. Rowe, D' Swift, And 

360 



NOTES 

other Eminent Hands. London : Printed for E. Curll, at the Dial and Bible 
against St. Dunstati's Church in Fleet-street 1714. (Price Five Shillings).' 
They also occur in the ' unauthorised ' edition of 1716 = below. There are 
many differences of spelling in these versions, but the following variants are 
the only ones that need be noted. 

1. 28. 1712] could wish. 

p. 189, 1. 2. 1712] the Mice. 1. 18. i7i2]orany. 1. 25. i7i2]Godes. 
C] unworthy Godis. 1. 30. 1712] in the. 1. 37. 1712] rack. 

p. 190, 1. 6. 1712] from the. 1. 16. i7i2]bedone. 11. 18 et seqq., not 
in 1712. 1.25. 1712 and C] Susannah and the Two Elders. 1. 29. 1712 
and C] The Paramours were Olde, the Dame was Yong. 1. 32. 17 12 and C] 
Sweet Jesu ! that had bene much. 

p. 195. Published in C. 1. 25] Walter Danniston, To his Friends. 

p. 196, 1. 14. C] And Death's. 

p. 204, 11. 12 — 17. Published in Dryden's Miscellany Poems, Part 5, 
1703/4 ( = E). 1.12. A] Faith, Hope, and Charity. Being a Paraphrase, etc. 
1. 19. E] men. A and E] Angels. 

p. 205, 1. 12. A] and as much believes. 

p. 206, 1. 3. A and E] With all His Robes. 1. 11. A] And still. 

p. 209, 1. 9. D] Stoboeum. 



361 



APPENDIX A 

CONTENTS OF THE EDITION OF 1707. 

(Copies of this edition are very rarely to be seen.) 
Advertisement from the Publisher. 

The Name of Mr. Prior, is a more Satisfactory Recommendation of the 
following Sheets to those Gentlemen who are Judges of Poetry, than whatever 
can be offer'd in their Behalf. 

All that I here endeavour'd, (and which by the Assistance of some Friends, 
I have accomplish'd) is, that the several Pieces herein contain'd, should appear 
more Perfect and Correct by this Publication, than they have hitherto done 
elsewhere; and that no Copy should be inserted, 'till I was assur'd of its being 
Genuine. 

A Satyr, on the Modern Translators of Ovid's Epistles. 
The Seventh Satyr of Juvenal, imitated; Et Spes & Ratio Studiorum, &c. 
An Epistle to Sir Fleetwood Sheppard. 
Monsieur De la Fontaine's Hans Carvel imitated. 
The Ladle ; in Imitation of Fontaine. 
A Paraphrase on Chap. 13 <?/" i Corinthians. 

A Prologue, spoken at Court, before the Queen, on Her MaJesty^s Birth- 
Day, 1704. 
A Simile. 

Some Passages of Air. Dryden's Hind and Panther ; Burlesqii'd, or Varied. 
Heraclitus; or the Self- Deceiver. 

I am that I am. A Pindaric Ode, on Exod. III. 14. 

A Tale to a Young Gentleman in Love; or a PoQsy for a Wedding- Ring. 
The English Pad-Lock. 

A Second Epistle to Sir Fleetwood Sheppard. 
An Ode, to his Mistress. 
On Czelia's Playing upon the Lute. 
Ode, to the Returning Sun. 

APPENDIX B 

CONTENTS OF THE EDITION OF 1716. 

' A Second Collection of Poems on Several Occasions. By Matthew 
Prior, Esq; [Device] London: Printed for J. Roberts near the Oxford Arms 
in Warwick- Lane, 17 16. Price One Shilling.' 
Erie Robert'^ Mice. A Tale. In Imitation of Chaucer. 
Susannah and the two Elders. In Imitation of Chaucer. 
Gualterus Dannistoniis ad Amicos. 
Walter Danniston to his Friends Imitated. 
Horace Lib. I. Epist. IX. Imitated. Inscribed to the Right Hon. Robert 

Harley, Esq; 
Song to his Mistress. 

An Ode, in hnitation of the second Ode of Horace Written m the Year 1692. 
The first Epistle to Sir Fleetwood Sheppard. 
A Satire on the Modern Translators. 
A Satire upon the Poets. In Imitation of the seventh Satire of Juvenal. 

362 



INDEX OF TITLES 



[Adriani Morientis ad Animam Suam] 

Imitated loi 
'^ Alma : or, the Progress of the Mmd 

209 
Anacreon, In Imitation of 41 

Beauty, On, A Riddle 70 

Boileau Despreaux, A Letter to 
Monsieur, Occasion'd by the Vic- 
tory at Blenheim, 1704 125 

Buckhurst, To my Lord Very Young, 
Playing with a Cat 1 7 

Callimachus to Apollo, The Second 
Hymn of 200 

Callimachus to Jupiter, The First 
Hymn of 196 

Cantata 172 

Carmen Seculare, For the Year 1700 
104 

Celia to Damon 31 

Chameleon, The 132 

Charity, A Paraphrase On the Thir- 
teenth Chapter of the First Epistle 
to the Corinthians 204 

[Chaucer's Stile] In the same Style 190 

Cloe Hunting 59 

Cloe Jealous 75 

Cloe Jealous, Answer to, in the same 
Stile, The Author sick 76 

[Cloe Jealous] A Better Answer 77 

Cloe Weeping, To 56 

Critical Moment, A 177 

Cupid and Ganymede 60 

Cupid Mistaken 62 

Democritus and Heraclitus 194 
Despairing Shepherd, The 19 
Dorset, To the Countess of, Written 

in her Milton 15 
Dove, The 64 



Dursley, To the Lady [On Milton] 16 
Dutch Proverb, A 87 

English Padlock, An 81 

Epigram[s] 136 

Epitaph, An 183 

Erie Robert's Mice In Chaucer's Stile 

188 
Exeter, To the Countess of, Playing 

on the Lute 5 
Exodus iii. 14, On i 

Flies, The 135 

Flower, A, Painted by Simon Varelst 

191 
Forma Bonum Fragile 177 
Fountain, For The Plan of a 131 

Garland, The 73 
Greek, From the 135 
[Gualterus Danistonus, Ad Amicos] 
Imitated 195 

Halstead in Essex, Engraven on a 

Column, In the Church of 206 
Hans Carvel 83 

Harley, To the Lady Elizabeth 191 
Harley, To Mr, Wounded by Guiscard 

186 
Henry and Emma, A Poem, Upon the 

Model of The Nut-brown Maid 138 
Her Right Name 173 
Horace Lib. i. Epist. ix Imitated, 

To the Right Honorable Mr Harley 

185 
Howard, To Mr 56 

King, An Ode Presented to the, on 
his Majesty's Arrival in Holland, 
after The Queen's Death 35 

King, Presented to the, at his Arrival 



INDEX OF TITLES 



in Holland, after the Discovery of 
the Conspiracy, 1696 53 

Ladle, The 93 

Lady, To a, She refusing to continue 

a Dispute with me, etc. 29 
Lady's Looking-Glass, The 25 
Lady who offers her Looking-Glass 

to Venus, The 74 
Lisetta's Reply 72 
Love and Friendship 26 
Love Disarm'd 58 
Lover's Anger, A 68 
Lucius, Epilogue to 180 

Maid, A True 174 

[Maid, A True] Another 175 

Mercury and Cupid 69 

Merry Andrew 133 

Mezeray's History of France, Written 

in the Beginning of 99 
Montague, To the Honorable Charles 

20 
Montaigne's Essays, Written in 207 
Morise Encomium of Erasmus, A 

Passage in the. Imitated loi 

Namur, An English Ballad, On the 

Taking of, etc. 47 
Noailles, An Epigram, Written to the 

Duke de 178 
Nouveaux Interests des Princes de 

I'Europe, Written in the 100 

Ode, An 8, 18, 42 

Ormond's Picture at Sir Godfrey 
Kneller's, Seeing the Duke of 30 

Ovid, Written in an 174 

Oxford, Earl of, An Extempore In- 
vitation to the,... 171 2 188 

Pallas and Venus 78 

Paulo Purganti and His Wife, An 

Honest, but a Simple Pair 88 
Person who wrote 111, and spake 

Worse against Me, To a 137 
Person, On the Same 137 
Phffidra, Epilogue to 178 
Phyllis's Age 177 



Prologue, Spoken at Court before the 
Queen, On Her Majesty's Birth- 
'bay, 1704 124 

Protogenes and Apelles 191 

Queen, An Ode, Humbly Inscrib'd 
to the. On the Glorious Success of 
Her Majesty's Arms, 1706 159 

Queen's Picture, An Epistle, Desiring 
the 207 

Question, The, to Lisetta 72 

Quid sit futurum Cras fuge quserere 
137 

Reasonable Affliction, A 175 
Reasonable Affliction, Another 175 
[Reasonable Affliction] Another, [and] 

On the same Subject, [and] On the 

Same 176 
Robe's Geography, Written at Paris, 

1700, In the Beginning of 98 

.Seneca dying in a Bath, Picture of 7 

Shephard, Esq., An Epistle to Fleet- 
wood 10 

Sherlock, To Dr, on his Practical 
Discourse Concerning Death 102 

Simile, A 134 

[Singer, Mrs Elizabeth] To the 
Author of the Foregoing Pastoral 
28 

Solomon on the Vanity of the World 

255 
Song, A 19, 63 
Sun, Hymn to the 22 

Thief and the Cordelier, The 181 
Tomb-stone, For my own 194 

Venus Mistaken 63 

Villiers, An Ode, Inscribed to the 
Memory of the Hon'^''^ Col. 
George, Drowned in the River 
Piava, in the Country of Friuli, 
1703, In Imitation of Horace, 
Ode 28, Lib. i 121 

Young Gentleman in Love, To a 79 



364 



INDEX OF FIRST LINES 



Alexis shun'd his Fellow Swains 19 
As after Noon, one Summer's Day 

62 
As Cloe came into the Room t'other 

Day 68 
As Nancy at Her Toylet sat 173 
As once a Twelvemonth to the Priest 

10 
As the Chameleon, who is known 

132 
At Mary's Tomb, (sad, sacred Place !) 

35 

Behind her Neck her comely Tresses 

ty'd 59 
Beneath a Myrtle's verdant Shade 58 
Beneath a verdant Lawrel's ample 

Shade 172 
Beyond the fix'd and settl'd Rules 88 
Blest be the Princes, who have fought 

100 
By Silvia if thy charming Self be 

meant 28 

Celia and I the other Day 25 

Dear Cloe, how blubber'd is that 

pretty Face 77 
Dear Dick, how e'er it comes into 

his Head 185 
Dear Howard, from the soft assaults 

of Love 56 
Dear Thomas, didst Thou never pop 

134 
Democritus, dear Droll, revisit Earth 

194 
Dictate, O mighty Judge, what Thou 

hast seen 207 
Did sweeter Sounds adorn my flowing 

Tongue 204 



Fair Susan did her Wif-hede well 

menteine 190 
Fire, Water, Woman, are Man's Ruin 

87 
Forbear to ask Me, why I weep 

75 
Forgive the Muse, who in unhallow'd 

Strains 102 
For what To-morrow shall disclose 

Frank Carves very ill, yet will palm 

all the Meats 136 
From her own Native France as old 

Alison past 175 
From publick Noise and factious 

Strife 79 
Full oft doth Mat. with Topaz dine 

190 

Great Bacchus, bom in Thunder and 
in Fire 135 

Hah ! how the Laurel, great Apollo's 
Tree 200 

Hans Carvel, Impotent and Old 83 

Helen was just slipt into Bed 176 

Here reading how fond Adam was 
betray 'd 16 

Her Eye-brow-Box one Morning lost 
176 

How capricious were Nature and Art 
to poor Nell 177 

Howe'er 'tis well, that while Man- 
kind 20 

How old may Phyllis be, You ask 
177 

If Wine and Musick have the Pow'r 

63 
In a dark Corner of the House 176 



INDEX OF FIRST LINES 



In awful Pomp, and Melancholy State 

lor 
In Heav'n, one Holy-day, You read 

60 
In one great Now, Superior to an 

Age 186 
In sullen Humour one Day Jove 69 
In vain You tell your parting Lover 

In Virgil's Sacred Verse we find 64 
Interr'd beneath this Marble Stone 
183 

Ladies, to Night your Pity I implore 
178 

Let 'em Censure : what care I ? 4 1 

Light of the World, and Ruler of the 
Year 22 

Lye, Philo, untouch'd on my peace- 
able Shelf 137 

Man ! Foolish Man ! i 

Matthew met Richard ; when or 

where 210 
Miss Danae, when Fair and Young 



No, no; for my Virginity 174 

Of All that William Rules, or Robe 

98 
On His Death-Bed poor Lubin lies 

175 
Our Weekly Friends To-morrow meet 

188 
Out from the injur'd Canvas, Kneller, 

strike 30 
Ovid is the surest Guide 174 

Poor little, pretty, flutt'ring Thing 

lOI 

Resolve Me, Cloe, what is This 70 

Say, dearest Villiers, poor departed 
Friend 121 

Say, Sire of Insects, mighty Sol 135 

See here, how bright the first-born 
Virgin shone 15 

See, whilst Thou weep'st, fair Cloe, 
see 56 

Shine forth. Ye Planets, with dis- 
tinguish 'd Light 124 



Since hir'd for Life, thy Servile Muse 
must sing 125 

Sly Merry Andrew, the last South- 
wark Fair 133 

Some Folks are drunk, yet do not 
know it 47 

Spare, Gen'rous Victor, spare the 
Slave 29 

Studious the busie Moments to de- 
ceive 195 

Sure Cloe Just, and Cloe Fair 72 

Ten Months after Florimel happen'd 

to wed 175 
The am'rous Youth, whose tender 

Breast 17 
The Female Author who recites to 

Day 180 
The Merchant, to secui-e his Treasure 

42 
The Pride of ev'ry Grove I chose 73 
The Scepticks think, 'twas long ago 

93 
The Train of Equipage and Pomp of 

State 207 
The Trojan Swain had judg'd the 

great Dispute 78 
Thou, to whose Eyes I bend ; at 

whose Command 138 
Thy elder Look, Great Janus, cast 

104 
Thy Naggs (the leanest Things alive) 

136 
To John I ow'd great Obligation 136 
To Me 'twas giv'n to die: to Thee 

'tis giv'n 194 
Tway Mice, full Blythe and Amicable 

188 

Vain the Concern which You express 

178 
Venus, take my Votive Glass 74 
View not this Spire by Measure giv'n 

206 

What a frail Thing is Beauty says 

Baron Le Cras 177 
What can I say? What Arguments 

can prove 31 
What Charms You have, from what 

high Race You sprung 5 
Whate'er thy Countrymen have done 

99 



366 



INDEX OF FIRST LINES 



What Nymph shou'd I admire, or 

trust 72 
When Cloe's Picture was to Venus 

shown 63 
When fam'd Varelst this little Wonder 

drew 191 
When future Ages shall with Wonder 

view 191 
When Great Augustus govern'd An- 

tient Rome 162 
When Poets wrote, and Painters drew 

191 
While blooming Youth, and gay De- 
light 8 
While cruel Nero only drains 7 
While faster than his costive Brain 

indites 137 



While from our Looks, fair Nymph, 

You guess 18 
While from the Skies the ruddy Sun 

descends 26 
While we to Jove select the holy 

Victim 196 
Who has e'er been at Paris, must 

needs know the Greve 181 

Ye active Streams, where-e'er your 

Waters flow 131 
Ye careful Angels, whom eternal Fate 

53 
Yes, every Poet is a Fool 136 
Yes, fairest Proof of Beauty's Pow'r 

76 
Ye Sons of Men, with just Regard 

attend 264 



CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY JOHN CLAY, M.A. AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. 



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Treatment Date: March 2009 

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